Irish rockers U2 are set to have a busy year in 2009. Not only will the “I Will Follow” super-group release their highly anticipated 12th album, No Line On The Horizon, on Monday 2 March, but they’re also penning a Broadway musical version of Superman, which guitarist the Edge reckons will “open this year”.

“I think the musical had its heyday back in the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s era,” he admits, when quizzed about the production. “We’ve always harboured this sneaky ambition that maybe one day we might try our hand in that area. We’ve written a lot of the songs at this point. It’s in a pretty good state, and I hope it’ll open this year. We’re not sure where in the world, but most likely it will be in New York.”

The band have teamed up with scriptwriter Glenn Berger and director Julie Taymour (who helmed the award-winning The Lion King).

Meanwhile, singer Bono has revealed that he’s written most of the lyrics for U2’s new album from a fictional character’s point of view, including a war correspondent in “Cedars Of Lebanon”. “I’m bored of Bono and I am him,” he confessed to Q magazine. “I’m sick of me. I felt it was a little limiting to be in the first person.”