A WEB OF DISPUTATION AND ANGUISH

Neither Tobey Maguire nor director Sam Raimi will be involved in “Spider-Man 4,” which, saith the Associated Press, will focus on Peter Parker in high school. The change in personnel is occasioned, some said, by “creative differences” about the future of the franchise. Jerome Maida at the Philadelphia News recorded some reactions: "I actually think it's a good idea," said local writer/artist J.S. Earls (Pistolfist). "It's all about communication and if you keep telling stories with the same actors and directors, it's more difficult to communicate with your audience effectively."

 Said writer Brandon Jerwa ("Battlestar Galactica"): "Personally, I wish Sony would go with the more mature Peter Parker, employed as a teacher and juggling a couple of girlfriends, Mary Jane and the Black Cat, maybe? They'll never go that route, but Neil Patrick Harris would be my pick if they did. I don't necessarily think anyone should freak out over the reboot, but I'm definitely a little nervous about how this will play out. Ultimately, I blame Jay Leno."

Said IDW Publisher Chris Ryall: "I think a near-decade is a long time for comic-book movies where the characters aren't supposed to have aged much at all. So rebooting the franchise and getting Peter Parker back in high school for the next movie sounds right to me, especially if Brian Bendis' masterful 'Ultimate Spider-Man' comic is used as the template."

Writer Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Power Girl) was fatalistic: "They will forever re-boot properties," he said, “—look at Bond. Look at Sherlock Holmes. Look at Hulk, Superman. It's the nature of the business."

Some fans, however, were somewhat cynical (and maybe correct). "This is absolute classic spin," said Dave Blanchard. "They must teach this in PR 101 classes now -- spend the maximum number of words saying absolutely nothing. That line about going back to Peter's roots [as a high school student, which would permit a new, younger actor to take the Maguire role] cracks me up. How many years did Parker actually age throughout the three movies -- two? three? Why don't they just come right out and say, 'We couldn't afford Raimi and Maguire any more, so we're going to try to make this movie on the cheap.'"

To which Brent Frankenhoff at the Comics Buyer’s Guide responded: “While costs may be a factor, Dave, I think it's more a matter of Raimi's vision clashing with that of the producers, and the two groups choosing to part ways rather than continue down that path.”

And Dave reposited: “I think the producers' vision was: ‘We want to do this movie on the cheap.’ Hence, the ‘creative differences’ spin.”