Disney’s 1991 classicThe Rocketeeris coming back to the big screen with a big twist. Walt Disney Pictures has put what is described as a “sequel-reboot” to the original movie in development, which will be calledThe Rocketeersand will be set six years after the events of the original, taking place at the outset of theCold War. The title character will not be Cliff Secord from the original, with a new character taking over.
The original movie, based on the 1980s indie comic byDave Stevens, followed Cliff Secord, played byBilly Campbell, a stunt pilot who discovers a rocket pack suit, as he goes on adventures that puts him in the crosshairs of monsters, Nazis and even industrialistHoward Hughes.The Hollywood Reporterreveals that Cliff Secord has disappeared while fighting theNazis, which paves the way for a young African-American female pilot, who takes up the mantle of Rocketeer. She steps up to stop an ambitious and corrupt rocket scientist from stealing jet-pack technology in what could prove to be a turning point in the Cold War.Max WinklerandMatt Spicerhave signed on to write the script.
The original movie only made $46.7 million at thebox office, with the studio considering its performance disappointing, but the fan base kept growing to massive proportions over the years. The studio held a 20th Anniversary screening at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood back in 2011, with fans lining up for blocks for a chance to see this movie on the big screen again. The site reports that Disney started thinking of ideas to reboot this property around the same time as the anniversary screening, although they were trying to find ways to differentiate the property from Marvel’sIron Man.
Ironically, this reboot-sequel may actually have more in common withIron Manthan they think. Earlier this month, Marvel Comics announced that, at the end of their Civil War II comic book series, Tony Stark will step aside as Iron Man, paving the way for a 15-year-old African-American teenager named Riri Williams to take over as this iconic hero. It’s possible that this comic book story line may have inspired Disney to go in a similar direction with theirRocketeersreboot-sequel, but we don’t know for sure.
Brigham Taylor(The Jungle Book) is producing alongside two athletes, L.A. Clippers basketball starBlake Griffinand Carolina Panthers football starRyan Kalil. BothGriffinandKalilare partners in a company called Mortal Media, and they approachedBrigham Taylorwith the idea for this reboot.Max Winkleris the son of actorHenry Winkler, who made his feature writing and directing debut with the 2011 indie comedyCeremony. His new filmFloweris in post-production, and he has directed episodes ofBrooklyn Nine-Nine,The Grinder,New Girl,Fresh Off the BoatandCasual.Matt Spicerco-wrote theFlowerscript withMax Winkler, and they both also co-wrote the script forMagic Camp, based on a story bySteve Martin.
