Producers of "Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark" have been forced to delay by three weeks the official opening of the costly and complicated show, and it will only open its doors for previews after the busy Thanksgiving holiday.

"Shows like ours, that embrace the challenge of opening on Broadway without an out-of-town tryout, often need to adjust their schedules along the way," lead producer Michael Cohl said in a statement released Friday, citing an "unprecedented level of technical artistry." Originally scheduled to begin previews on Nov. 14 with an opening four days before Christmas, the show will now begin previews on Nov. 28 and finally open on Jan. 11, a less-than-ideal timetable for luring the crowds that descend on Broadway over the holidays.

"That's usually a sign that there's trouble in River City," says Robert Westenberg, a Tony Award-nominated actor whose Broadway credits include "Les Miserables," "Zorba" and the original 1987 run of "Into the Woods," which he recalls was delayed for several weeks while Stephen Sondheim tinkered with the musical before it finally opened. When it did, it ran for two years.