'Coraline' musical axed following Neil Gaiman sexual assault allegations
Another Neil Gaiman-associated project has been axed.
A United Kingdom production of "Coraline – A Musical" has been canceled following sexual assault allegations against its author, co-producers Leeds Playhouse, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and others announced in a statement Wednesday.
"After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author," the theater companies wrote. "Ticket holders have been contacted directly via email."
The announcement comes after four new allegations against Gaiman surfaced earlier this month, among nearly a dozen accusations, from women who say the award-winning novelist sexually assaulted them.
Vulture published a report on Jan. 13 outlining the new allegations against Gaiman, as well as allegations first revealed last year. Gaiman, 64, is the famed English fantasy writer behind "The Sandman," "Good Omens," "American Gods" and "Coraline," all of which have been turned into film, television and musical adaptations, among others.
In a lengthy open letter shared on his official website the following day, the British author said he's "watched the stories circulating the internet about me with horror and dismay."
Following the allegations, which range from forcible oral and anal sex to physical beatings, Gaiman's representatives responded to some outlets, claiming the alleged incidents were consensual and instances of practicing BDSM. "I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever," Gaiman wrote.
Since last summer, some projects connected to Gaiman have reportedly been paused or trimmed.
Last week, Dark Horse Comics announced it would no longer publish his works. The comic book publisher has worked with the author on comic adaptations of his works, including "How to Talk to Girls at Parties."
IndieWire reported in September that Disney had paused its film adaptation of Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book." And in October, it was reported that the Amazon Prime Video series "Good Omens" would end with a 90-minute TV movie episode, as opposed to a full third season, which Amazon MGM Studios later confirmed to Paste BN.
Netflix has yet to comment on the future of its TV adaptation of "The Sandman," based on the DC Comic, which would be preparing for its third season.
Paste BN has reached out to Disney and Netflix for more information.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
Contributing: Edward Segarra