Spidey entertains some onlookers.

According to sources close to the wacky web slinger, Spider-Man had all but promised to nix a deal for a fourth film unless co-stars Kristen Dunst and the always dopey Tobey Maguire reprise their respective roles as Spidey’s love interest and alter-ego.

With Hollywood buzzing with conjecture, the original web head staged a press conference on the steps of the City Hall today in the hopes of clarifying the situation with reporters.

As members of the press waited anxiously for the masked acrobat, Spider-Man swung in stage left, did three cartwheels, a back flip, and landed perfectly behind his podium to greet the applauding pool of reporters.

“Let me first thank all of you for attending this little press conference”, said Spider-Man. “I just want to say that I am eternally grateful to director Sam Raimi and I’m really looking forward to a long, successful theatrical run of Spider-Man 3. Is there going to be a Spider-Man 4? Well, that’s up to all those Hollywood types. I’m just a guy that fights super villains and beats up the occasional mugger. Until next time, true believers!”

Spider-Man’s swift departure left the awestruck media members in a frenzy to find the nearest payphone to call in their stories, but his ambiguity surrounding the future of the Spider-Man franchise made for weak news fodder. Although Spidey’s vague statement left news agencies across the globe deflated and brimming with frustration, it paled in comparison to the disappointment felt by Spider-Man’s fan base of impressionable kids and creepy, comic book-reading adults.

Spider-“Fan” David Light, a sales rep for paint superstore “Ladder Day Paints”, expressed his displeasure after hearing that his beloved hero might not be interested in signing on for another movie.

“I just don’t get this guy anymore”, said a visibly shaken Light. “He goes out and beats down Doc Oc (Dr. Octopus) and the Green Goblin, but he doesn’t have the stones to do a fourth flick without little Tobey and that girl from Jumanji? Whatever, man. They should just can this franchise and go get Dr. Strange to make a movie. That would be pretty sweet.”

Light’s sentiments seem to echo those of Spider-Fans everywhere, but any effect on ticket sales for Spider-Man 3 is yet to be determined.

Stay tuned, true believers.