The Rocketeer reboot in development at Disney

The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Walt Disney Studios is preparing to blast off with another adventure starring The Rocketeer… sort of.

Max Winkler and Matt Spicer have been hired to write the reboot/sequel for the new film, which is being titled The Rocketeers. THR describes the new film as follows:

“The new take keeps the story in a period setting and offers a fresh view on the characters. Set six years after the original Rocketeer and after Secord has vanished while fighting the Nazis, an unlikely new hero emerges: a young African–American female pilot, who takes up the mantle of Rocketeer in an attempt to stop an ambitious and corrupt rocket scientist from stealing jetpack technology in what could prove to be a turning point in the Cold War.”

The Jungle Book producer Brigham Taylor is set to produce the film with the unlikely pair of L.A. Clippers Power forward Blake Griffin and Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil.

Created by Dave Stevens in 1982, Rocketeer was first published by Pacific Comics. Set in 1938, the story follows stunt pilot Cliff Secord who comes into possession of an experimental jetpack that allows him to take his fight for justice to the skies.

The original film was directed by Joe Johnson and stars Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin and Timothy Dalton and, while much loved by fans today, failed to live up to studio expectations at the box office at the time of its release.

What do you think of the idea of a The Rocketeer reboot/sequel? Sound off in the comments below!