Billy Campbell wants to bring the Rocketeer back to the audiences who didn't turn out in droves to see the original in the 1991 adaptation of Dave Steven's graphic novel. If you have time to check this out on DVD or the Disney Channel (where it seems to turn up every other day), then you'll see that besides the acting, the film hasn't aged that well. Today's special effects could make this thing fly again, as long as they don't saturate it with CGI.
Rocketeer Might Be Re-Rocketing Into Theaters
2:15 PM on Wed Jan 9 2008
By Kevin Kelly
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28 comments












Comments
Actually, look at the end of the trailer for the movie "Ironman." That to me is what the 2008 version of Rocketeer would look like.
I know what else will be re-rocketing if Jennifer Connelly is cast again. Know what I'm sayin' guys?!
@rbb:I have to agree
i actually liked rocketeer, but always wondered how he didn't burn his ass off.
@fiveinchtaint: Doubly so.
I saw it for the first time in many years a few months back, I thought it aged rather well, actually. Now if we get a non-waifish Connelly and an un-exploded Timothy Dalton worked in there, I would be all over that.
That'd be cool. I liked the movie and don't understand why it didn't do well. A breath of fresh air in its lungs and maybe it could do better.
@Kevin Kelly: EE? I think she's actually had them reduced since Career Opportunities. Zah-zing!
What Disney Channel are you watching where they play Rocketeer every other day?
I would love to see this movie between Hanna Montana episodes...
NO !
Guess that now that the 4400 isn't being renewed he's looking around for income opportunities...
I loved this movie when I was a kid. My guy friend and I tried to make our own backyard version of the Rocketeer using a complicated, albeit flimsy, system of pulleys. Did not work, but amused our parents.
Aw, yeah! I remember wanting a helmet like the one the Rocketeer had so bad. ha!
All I know and care about the original is JENNIFER, JENNIFER, JENNIFER.
whatever flaws this movie has, it's still one of my favourites.
TONS of fun, jennifer connelly, timothy dalton haming it up, and billy campbell IS the corporeal version of cliff secord if ever there was one.
good luck re-casting this.
It was made in 91, why remake it. Bleh. Original was classic. It'd be like remaking Dune.
Oh.
@fiveinchtaint: @Kevin Kelly: In retrospect, I may have misappropriated your joke. If so, my bad, I didn't mean tit. All the breast.
I was obsessed with this movie as a kid. I'm pretty sure Cliff Secord was instrumental in my realization that I was gay.
i'm kinda with RBB. i think at this point if the remade the rocketeer, then people will just think "iron man but without the super cool armor" and it'll do badly again.
i didnt know that rocketeer had done badly...i'm kinda surprised too. good story, great cast, there was nothing to not love about it.
It took all my convincing to go see that instead of T2 which opened the same weekend and after seeing T2, I think I enjoyed the Rocketeer more.
Rocketeer has to be one of my all time favorite movies honestly, despite all the flaws.
I really wouldnt want to see it remade though.
I'd ditch my DVD copy of this for Blu-Ray in a heartbeat.
Not exactly holding my breath for Disney to come through with the goods, though.
@Gazelle: Yeppers... I have an original, signed copy of the book, and she was a great match. Oh, how I could go for a remake! But if it's too CGI-laden, it will be just another dog.
Great film and it fit great during that decade with all the Indiana Jones, Phantom and The Shadow flicks. It has to stay in that period, but I think Billy's trying to recapture those past movie days. Iron Man will redefine the "rocket man" though and I doubt a Rocketeer would fly as most of the period films kinda tanked except for Dr. Jones' exploits. I still love that era though for films.
Agree with the positive sentiments on the Rocketeer. At the time I had no idea it was an adaptation. Look forward to the remake.
Reboot The Rocketeer!
Do the comic book as written. With Doc Savage and his crew.
And then lead into the sequel in NYC with The Shadow!
i love the rocketeer. i had a rocketeer lunchbox and thermos when i was little. it'd be nice to see a remake of it, as long as they don't ruin it with cgi.
I actually just re-watched this a few months ago - last time i saw it was in the theatres I believe. Someone asked me: "Why the hell would you re-watch that?"
I loved re-watching it. I need some sci-fi movies that aren't formatted with: A. generic plot B. Insert all the CGI we can get our hands on C. repeat over and over.
I want movies that are done tongue-in-cheek and with the smallest hint of cheese. I realize that wasn't intentional withthe rocketeer - probably - but you can't argue with the results.
Oh, and yeah, Connelly? *wipes drool from face* She needs to put the baby fat back on. The reral question is? Better Connelly nude bits: Hot Spot or Inventing the Abbots? Hot Spot is the obvious answer for quantity... but I really like the Abbots scene.
I also was obsessed with The Rocketeer! I was 15 when this classic came out and unlike the others on here I had a crush on Billy Campbell ... and his hair! LOL Funny story, on the same day I saw a matinee of The Rocketeer with my then bff and his mom, I had a haircut appointment. I brought along a magazine that had some Rocketeer coverage and asked the gal cutting my hair to make my hair like Billy's. I had that style for a good long while too. ^_^ While my love for all things Rocketeer stayed strong (the comics, games, etc.), the "do" and the Campbell crush have since passed. But Billy would have to have a cameo!
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