Spider-Man will have to wait a little longer for his Broadway debut because of production delays that have plagued the $31.3 million musical featuring songs by U2.

Rehearsals for the most expensive show ever produced on the Great White Way have been put off from this spring, according to senior members of the production team, who declined to be named because an opening date has not been announced.

According to these people, the musical will have a workshop in the late summer and begin rehearsals in the late fall for a Broadway opening at the Hilton Theater likely in early 2010.

"This is the third time the date has been changed so far," one of the production people said, adding that the high cost of producing the show "has never been an issue because the producers aren't tied to the market."

The reasons for the delay, this person said, involve unresolved creative decisions by a team headed by director Julie Taymor.

Spider-Man is being produced by a small consortium that includes Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle; Martin McCallum, a former top executive in the Cameron Mackintosh organization; and Spider-Man publisher Marvel Entertainment.

None of the lead producers would speak about the show. Suzanne Tighe, a spokeswoman for the production, said, "There can't be a postponement since no dates were announced. . . . We're going to send out an announcement next week."

The show could cost as much as $40 million, according to published reports. In addition to a large cast and special effects, the production calls for a 20-piece rock band.