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The Rocketeer
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Disney May Re-Ignite The Rocketeer
But who could strap on the pack?

22 August 2012  |  Written by James White  |  Source: Vulture


Rocketeer Poster

While Disney has lately been buoyed up by the output of studios it acquired – Marvel, Pixar etc. – the company is still committed to making new movies under the original Mouse House banner. Now the team at Vulture has heard that it might be digging into the archives to breathe new life into The Rocketeer.

Originally released in 1991 and based on Dave Stevens’ 1982 work for Pacific Comics, The Rocketeer saw Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord, a daredevil racing pilot in the late 1930s who discovers an experimental rocket jet pack stolen from Howard Hughes. When he uses the pack to become a masked hero, he faces trouble from the gangsters who stole it in the first place and eventually ends up battling Nazis.

With Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin and Timothy Dalton in the cast and Joe Johnston calling the shots, the original didn’t exactly set the box office aflame, but it is fondly remembered for its pulp spirit and adventurous nature.

Right now, Disney is apparently soliciting ideas for writers for the new take – hopefully it won’t plump for some modern-day, ultra-realistic reboot, which wouldn’t capture the feel that the character thrives on –– and it could all vanish into the development murk. But while it’s bubbling away, who would you cast as the gung-ho hero to commandeer the jet pack? And can a Rocketeer film still work in this post-Iron Man, post-Captain America age?


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Your Comments

Maybe!
I really like the 90's version, found it good old fashioned adventure romp fun. Hopefully this one will have lots of heart and not rely on the old CGI too much. It should also try to be its own and not look to any of the recent Marvel superhero pics for inspiration. Stick more to the old fashioned way it should be. More

Posted by dannyfletch at 23:22 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

Casting
Nathan Fillion, nuff said More

Posted by Heman at 21:35 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Rocker!
That old poster looks so similar to DCs Adam Strange that I actually thought that was what it was when I 1st saw it. But they should leave well enough alone with this film. More

Posted by Wild about Wilder at 13:17 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

Rocker!
Iam mixed on this 1 i love the original 91 version, its one of those sunday afternoon getaway films that you can just sit n watch and itll still be in your mind. but present day tech can allow better set peices that couldnt be achieved bk in 91. Why do I see a CAPTAIN AMERICA reference considering now CAP & ROCKETEER are under the same mouse house? More

Posted by leemours84 at 12:54 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

A woman?
How about a woman? Maybe not Jennifer Lawrence, but perhaps someone like her? Maybe it doesn't completely fit with the era, but it would be a refreshing change, perhaps. Especially if she was essentially out to rescue a guy in distress (her father, maybe). More

Posted by JonSolo42 at 12:45 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Why Not?
L: Nicky C ... but the tone and the casting and the visual style has to be bang on. It can't be super glossy and look like Iron Man, but it can't be hyper real and look like the Man of Steel trailer. Plus, it needs a new villain otherwise it will look even MORE like Captain America vs Hydra using a Stark device. It can't be that high-tech, it needs to be old-school dangerous. It needs to be a health hazard. I'd cast an OLDER actor (OMG!) and use the character's age in the story. Jon Hamm, More

Posted by BelfastBoy at 12:32 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

Why Not?
... but the tone and the casting and the visual style has to be bang on. It can't be super glossy and look like Iron Man, but it can't be hyper real and look like the Man of Steel trailer. Plus, it needs a new villain otherwise it will look even MORE like Captain America vs Hydra using a Stark device. It can't be that high-tech, it needs to be old-school dangerous. It needs to be a health hazard. I'd cast an OLDER actor (OMG!) and use the character's age in the story. Jon Hamm, down on his luck More

Posted by Nicky C at 11:10 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

Is Matt Bomer that bonkers a choice? More

Posted by dee123 at 10:50 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

Why Not?
... but the tone and the casting and the visual style has to be bang on. It can't be super glossy and look like Iron Man, but it can't be hyper real and look like the Man of Steel trailer. Plus, it needs a new villain otherwise it will look even MORE like Captain America vs Hydra using a Stark device. It can't be that high-tech, it needs to be old-school dangerous. It needs to be a health hazard. I'd cast an OLDER actor (OMG!) and use the character's age in the story. Jon Hamm, down on his luck More

Posted by Nicky C at 10:49 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

The Killing
It's been amazing watching Bill Campbell in the U.S version of The Killing. He's a quality actor. Reminded me what a neat film the original Rocketeer was when I saw him. Dumb fun. Nothing wrong with that at the cinema. More

Posted by mancalledpete at 10:19 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

Unless they did something radically different...
its hard to imagine it not feeling like a "Steve Rogers finds a rocket pack designed by Howard Stark" kinda storyline. Especially given the Joe Johnston connection. As for who to star? Dunno, I'd always love to see Simon Baker get a big marquee chance. Though, I really see him as Barry Allen. More

Posted by partybee at 09:30 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Redundant
Some of us prefer Battle Beyond the Stars to Star Wars. Had a far superior writer for one  More

Posted by elab49 at 08:43 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post

Redundant
I would think that after the sucess of Iron Man/The Avengers Disney would find the Rocketeer a little redundant. This would be The Battle Beyond The Stars to Iron Man's Star Wars........LEAVE WELL ALONE! More

Posted by kittybinks at 07:25 on 22 August 2012 | Report This Post


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