A stage production ofNeil Gaiman’s 2002 children’s novelCoralinehas been canceled,Varietyreports. A statement from the production partners behind the scrapped musical cited the recent allegations of sexual misconduct brought against the author.Coraline — A Musicalwas originally scheduled to run at the Leeds Playhouse in England from April to May of this year before embarking on a tour through Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Manchester. Inthe joint statementfrom Leeds Playhouse, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Birmingham Rep, and Home Manchester, the organizations stated, “We have decided our production ofCoraline – A Musicalwill not proceed.”
From the co-production partners: Leeds Playhouse, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Birmingham Rep, and HOME, Manchester. We have decided our production of Coraline – A Musical will not proceed. After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author. Ticket holders have been contacted directly via email.
This isn’t the first project tied to Gaiman to be canceled in the wake of the damning allegations. The third season of the highly acclaimed Amazon Prime Video seriesGood Omens, based on the novel by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, wascut short to a single, 90 minute series finale, with no involvement from Gaiman, who was showrunner and wrote the entire first season. Disneypulled the plug on its adaptation ofThe Graveyard Book, another children’s horror novel, which was to be directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland,World War Z). And in the world of comics, where Gaiman got his start withThe Sandman, Dark Horse dropped Gaiman from its roster of writers and canceled his “Anansi Boys"series, based on Gaiman’s 2005 novel.
The ‘Coraline’ Cancellation Comes Following Accusations From Several Women
Coralinewas previously adapted in 2009 into a stop-motion animated film by Henry Selick, director ofThe Nightmare Before Christmas. Its voice cast includes Dakota Fanning, Terri Hatcher, John Hodgeman, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, and Ian McShane.
Allegations against Gaiman first surfaced in July 2024 when Tortoise Media released its six-part podcast seriesMaster: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman. Five women shared their stories of sexual abuse at the hands of the author. Even more women have since come forward in an extensive article titled “There Is No Safe Word” published byVulturein January of this year.
J.K. Rowling Responds to Neil Gaiman Allegations With Harvey Weinstein Comparison
The controversial ‘Harry Potter’ author is speaking out about the silence of certain authors in the wake of the Neil Gaiman allegations.
Theaccounts are all disturbingly similarto one another. In most cases, the women were much younger than Gaiman, and many of them were fans of his work prior to meeting him. In all instances, Gaiman initiated sex with the women, and his advances became violent and sadistic in nature. Gaiman hasdenied all accusations, insisting that while he did have relationships with all the women in question, he never engaged in non-consensual sex.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, you can call the national support hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visitRAINN.orgfor more resources.
