THE ROCKETEER Reboots!
In an exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter, Walt Disney Studios has revealed that it will be rebooting The Rocketeer, the 1991 film considered a flop, that found a cult following in later years.
Based on the comic book by Dave Stevens, the original film started Billy Campbell as Cliff Secord, an aerial stunt man who stops a Nazi spy from obtaining a rocket pack stolen from Howard Hughes. It also starred Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly, and Timothy Dalton. It was budgeted at $35 million and grossed $46.7 million at the box office. It opened at number four behind Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, City Slickers, and Dying Young.
Recently interest in the property was revived a bit after a 20th-anniversary screening in 2011 was held at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre with fans lining up around the block, some in costume.
The new movie will take place six years after the original with Cliff Secord missing and a young African-American female pilot again trying to keep jet packs out of the hands of a corrupt scientist who wants to sell the technology to the Soviets.
The project is in the early stages of development. It has Max Winkler and Matt Spicer as the writers. Brigham Tayler, Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil are producing it.
No word on a possible release date.
