The Disney+ ‘Rocketeer’ Reboot Gets Its Head Writer
Thirty-two years after The Rocketeer was released, Disney’s 1991 superhero film continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many fans.
An homage to the golden age of Hollywood and the pulp fiction of the 1930s and 40s, the film tells the story of a stunt pilot named Cliff Secord, who discovers a hidden rocket pack and is thus able to fly without the use of an aircraft. His heroic deeds draw the attention of the jetpack’s creator, Howard Hughes, the FBI who are trying to locate it, and Nazi operatives who stole it in the first place.
Starring Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, and Alan Arkin, the film has achieved a cult following, and its James Horner score has become legendary.
A Cult-Classic
Although never a box-office success, the rabid fanbase that The Rocketeer developed has led Disney to attempt to resurrect the franchise over the years.
In 2019, The Rocketeer returned for a new animated series on Disney Junior.
Earlier, director J.D. Dillard attempted to bring the Rocketeer back for a new film titled The Return of the Rocketeer. That film, however, failed to launch.
A ‘Rocketeer’ Reboot Takes Flight
The latest Hollywood luminary to attempt to revive The Rocketeer is David Oyelowo, who is set to star and direct a new Rocketeer project on Disney+.
According to Oyelowo, the plan is to pay homage to the original film, while also updating the franchise.
“I was a big fan of the first one. Actually had the poster up in my bedroom as a teenager. It’s a beloved property over [at Disney], so to be trusted with it is a real privilege. We’re going to take care of the fans of the original and hopefully bring in a whole new fanbase. In our film, he’s going to be an ex-Tuskegee airman, so it’s still in that 1940s milieu,” Oyelowo told TheWrap last year.
“We know we have to adhere to the things that people loved about the first one. But that was 30 years ago, so we want to make a film that’s going to resonate for the next 30 years and especially for the now. That’s the needle we have to thread and we’re working hard to do so.”
Enter Eugene Ashe
While we still don’t have a release date for The Rocketeer on Disney+, the show does now have a writer.
Eugene Ashe, best known for the film Sylvie’s Love, has been tapped to write the new series.
Ashe made his directorial debut in 2012 on Homecoming, which was a romantic comedy based on his off-Broadway play.
With Disney+ seemingly canceling projects left and right, it is good to hear that The Rocketeer reboot is still moving forward. Hopefully, we will see the hero soaring again soon.
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