“The Rocketeer”: Reboot Happening From Disney

Once billed as “an airborne Indiana Jones”, Disney’s The Rocketeer remains a much beloved title in the company’s live action features. The film was for all intent and purposes a complete flop, garnering a $47.6 million box office return for a budgeted $40 million. (This is not reflective of home video sales, which helped keep the film alive in the hearts of fans)

The Rocketeer 1991 movie starred a young Billy Campbell, love interest Jennifer Connelly, and villainous Timothy Dalton in a heavily stylized 1940s world.  Joe Johnston (Jumanji, Jurassic Park III) directed the film, featuring an incredible score by the late great James Horner.

This new film, The Hollywood Reporter says, is considered a sequel-reboot with a ‘modern day twist’. And it will be headlined by a black female character. Other early reports are claiming the film will be titled The Rocketeers, meaning possibly SEVERAL more rocketpack soaring characters.

It’s too early to start speculating on cast, plot, and possible visual style, but we DO know Max Winkler and Matt Spicer are working on the script.

Comic book writer/artist Dave Stevens created the Rocketeer in 1982, with plans moving quickly to create a feature film around the character. Steve Miner purchased the film rights from Stevens in 1983, but he strayed too far from the original concept and the rights reverted to Stevens. In 1985 Stevens gave writers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo a free option on The Rocketeer rights. Stevens liked that “their ideas for The Rocketeer were heartfelt and affectionate tributes to the 1930s serials with all the right dialogue and atmosphere. Most people would approach my characters contemporarily, but Danny and Paul saw them as pre-war mugs.”

A sequel/continuation of the original film has long been rumored, and in this day and age of rebooting EVERYTHING, it shouldn’t be surprising this title is at the forefront. We’ll keep you updated as any other information is released.