Three years ago, Playbill posted a news item that seemed so ludicrous as to be a prank: An upcoming Spider-Man musical, it announced, would be directed by Julie Taymor, with music written by Bono and the Edge. Well, SuperHeroHype.com claims to have unearthed the casting notice for a July staged reading, and it looks either legit or extremely well faked: "The burden of being a superhero, his guilt for his role in his uncle's death, as well as his debilitating crush on Mary Jane all weigh heavily upon him. Great pop/rock voice."

We assume Bono and the Edge are writing original music for this, but why should they? We bet they could just repurpose their catalog and turn it into Spider-Man: The U2 Experience. Lyrics to "I Still Haven't Found Uncle Ben's Killer" are after the jump.

I have climbed tallest buildings
I have swung through the streets
Only to fight with you … only to fight with you …

I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls … these city walls …
Only to fight with you …

But I still haven't found
Uncle Ben's killer
But I still haven't found
Uncle Ben's killer

I have felt Arachne's kiss
Felt the webbing from my fingertips
It burned like fire
But I pushed myself higher

Ben he told me before he died
"Pete, don't be ruled by foolish pride"
Then he got shot by a burglar
Who I let escape

And I still haven't found Uncle Ben's killer
And I still haven't found Uncle Ben's killer

I believe since that awful hour
Responsibility comes with great power
Comes with great power
Well yes I'm still running

I spun a web
Any size
I caught those thieves
Just like flies
Just like flies …
But you know I'm still grievin' …

'Cuz I still haven't found Uncle Ben's killer
I still haven't found Uncle Ben's killer
I still haven't found Uncle Ben's killer
I still haven't found Uncle Ben's killer …

—Dan Kois

Spider-Man 3 Soundtrack and a Musical [SuperHeroHype.com]