Disney has a long and storied history on the big screen, and they have been responsible for classic cartoons and big time blockbusters through the years. Thanks to having the MCU and Star Wars, Disney is basically printing money when these franchises pump out a new project.

The studio has had some misfires, however, and back in the 90s, The Rocketeer failed to take flight at the box office. The movie still maintains a following, and recently, details have emerged about a fresh take on the character.

Let's take a closer look at the changes being made to the Rocketeer's story.

'The Rocketeer' Should Have Been A Hit

1991's The Rocketeer was a film that was looking to launch the comic book character into the stratosphere with mainstream popularity. The character debuted in the comics back in the 80s, and despite having been a relatively new character, there was hope that he could thrive on the big screen.

Starring talented performers like Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, and Alan Arkin, The Rocketeer had a ton of potential as it geared up for release. The previews looked great, though it got only a decent reception from critics. However, once the film hit theaters, it would not become a blockbuster hit in the slightest.

The Rocketeer only managed to bring home $46 million at the box office, and it was viewed as a commercial disappointment. The planned sequels were subsequently scrapped, and in the blink of an eye, things were seemingly done for the character in the mainstream media.

It would be nearly two decades before the character came around again, but there would be some big changes made.

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The Character Had An Animated Series

In 2019, nearly 20 years after the movie made its debut in theaters, The Rocketeer television series premiered on Disney Junior looking to reshape and repackage the character for young audiences. This time around, the lead was a 7-year-old girl who received the jet pack for her birthday.

Clearly, Disney thought that repackaging the character was going to yield some solid results on the small screen, but in all actuality, the show was unable to become the success that the network was hoping for. Instead of finding an audience that could reignite the character's popularity, the show was abruptly cancelled after just a single season on the air. Not exactly what the House of Mouse was hoping for.

Renew Cancel TV wasn't surprised at the cancellation, however, as they wrote, "It’s not totally surprising, as Disney really didn’t give the show much love in the terms of promotion or merchandising."

It's a shame that this beloved character once again failed to catch on with modern audiences, and it's an even bigger shame that not a whole lot of promotion went into helping the show become a hit.

Fans of the character, however, should be excited with the news that the Rocketeer is set to make a comeback once more. This time around, it will be live-action again, and there will be some huge changes to the iconic hero.

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He's Making A Comeback With Some Major Changes

It has been several years since Disney first talked about this loved character making a return, and at long last, details have emerged about the new film and what it will be about. From what we have read, there will be major changes to the character, which has caused a ton of excitement from fans.

Back in 2020, MovieWeb wrote, "A short synopsis for the planned Rocketeer sequel has also been provided. This time, the story is said to focus on a 'young African-American female pilot who tries to stop an evil rocket scientist from stealing jetpack technology during a pivotal moment in the Cold War.' The movie is also intended to be a direct sequel to the original movie rather than a complete reimagining."

A 2021 update, however, said, "The Return of the Rocketeer will apparently focus on a retired Tuskegee airman who becomes the new Rocketeer."

Elements from both of these stories can certainly be molded into a single film, with the retired Tuskegee airman helping the young female pilot's ascent to becoming the Rocketeer, but we will have to wait and see how things play out.

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Keep in mind that changes can certainly happen at any point, but as of now, things look promising for this upcoming film. Fans of the original will definitely be giving the classic a watch as they prepare for what is shaping up to be an exciting sequel.

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