No more Tobey in the next Spidey film (photo from Sony Pictures)

Fans of the popular comic book-film franchise “Spider-Man” are caught in a web of dismay with Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios' announcement of "major changes" regarding the direction they are taking with the web-slinging superhero.

The media giants have scrapped its planned fourth installment, which was meant to continue supposedly where the last one ended. Instead, they are working on a teenage Peter Parker origin story in the tradition of “Batman Begins” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

The reboot means a new cast and crew, ergo, no more Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi.

Comments poured in on various entertainment websites, such as Entertainment Weekly (EW), Deadline-Hollywood, and Slashfilm regarding the changes. Almost everyone deemed the decision a “wrong move.”

"I think this is kind of stupid. We already saw Peter Parker in high school in the first film (which wasn’t even that long ago) and it was done very well,” commented one on EW.

Another one quipped: “You can bet that this means Sony will turn this franchise into some kind of ‘Twilight’-teen-drama-shlock…bummer.”

For one fan, a “Spidey” reboot is “way too soon, and way too unnecessary,” adding that “this is a reboot for the sake of reboot and the usual follow-the-leader Hollywood tactic.”

In Deadline-Hollywood, a user found the reboot perplexing.

"Usually you go the reboot route as a response to financial failure. These movies were massive blockbusters, even the universally hated third installment. Why not just get a new director and continue the story arc?

“Or better yet, why not push the stupid release date [which is 2011] back to give Raimi the breathing room he needs to iron out script kinks? These are the problems that arise when you set out to make a release date instead of a movie,” he wrote.

Reports have it that issues on schedule and script prompted Raimi, who directed the first three “Spiderman” films, to crawl out of the production. And now, supporters point their furious fingers at the film studio.

An angry fan yelled in Slashfilm: “Sometimes I wish I could just kill everyone at [Sony] or any of those big production offices. You have [‘Spider-Man 4’] almost READY TO GO[…] and what do you do? SAY FORGET IT BECAUSE THE GUY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS IS ARGUING WITH YOU ON A CHARACTER HE KNOWS BETTER!! [So] you take the lazy way out, fire everyone and go for a reboot of a movie not even a decade old.”

One die-hard supporter even wanted to literally rally behind bringing the original franchise back.

“Everyone should send out emails to Sony and protest that everyone is saying that Sam Raimi should get with another studio that wants his ideas and Sony will get [the] hard feeling of the fans that rebooting is a mistake and if we can protest all around the web or world, another Studio might consider hiring Sam or Sony will listen to Sam for his 4th installment.

“I know this [probably] won’t work, but everyone send emails to your friends who are fans of the Sam Raimi Spidey franchise and say give Sam another chance. I know I am a little crazy, but it’s worth a try. If anyone knows Sam personally, tell him or email him to go with a new studio and quick so we can protest against this crazy reboot and have an awesome Spiderman 4 film,” he called out.

Aside from what they think is a hopelessly passé storyline, fans are also hesitant to support the 2012 “Spidey” film because the producers declared that it will have a “gritty, contemporary feel” a la “Batman.”

Maintained a commenter: “Spider-Man can be vibrant still and have its dark moments when appropriate. But not an entire encompassing gritty feel.”

For another, the treatment “smells like betrayal.”

“Like they could drop Sam at any time if he didn't ‘comply.’ This makes me sad. I'll get over it, but if they're offering up a 'gritty' Spider-Man, I might not go to the theatre to see it,” he continued.

Pinoy fans also expressed their disappointment over the 360-degree turn via the omnipresent social networking site Facebook.

“Spider-man 4 by 2012 is without Tobey Maguire...Sad,” posted one.

“How sad [naman].. I watched a news [kanina...] Tobey [Maguire] is no longer SPIDERMAN[...] di na raw [siya] included sa SPIDERMAN 4. He's my Hero, My Spiderman…” lamented a fan girl.

Others vented their disappointment via the local forum, PinoyExchange.

“Can't imagine Spider-man without Tobey Maguire. He's just perfect for the role. It wasn't his fault the previous script sucked anyway so why boot him out?”

Grieved another: “Too bad for the once successful franchise.”

Nevertheless, some international fans see a silver lining in the Peter Parker flash back.

“Honestly reboot is the way to go,” one said. “Peter Parker is best in his high school years, moving him out of it too early ruined a lot for the film series. There's so much to tell with Spidey as a teen, just look at [Spectacular] Spiderman, the best [adaptation] so far. If they come even close to that series it'll be amazing.”

Another seconded: “As much as I would've loved to see Raimi's series go out on a high note as opposed to the mess of ‘Spidey 3’ (which really isn't much worse than the muddled and goofy 'Batman Forever'), a fresh take opens a greater realm of possibilities of having another Spidey fan not only up to snuff with the [second] film, but something like the recent ‘Batman’ films.”