Mattson Tomlin says Disney passed on real-time Rocketeer sequel

The Batman 2 writer Mattson Tomlin says Disney turned down his idea for a sequel to the 1991 superhero film The Rocketeer. Tomlin tweeted that he and JD Dillard had pitched a realtime follow-up: "100 harrowing minutes that would have really leaned into how viscerally insane it is to strap yourself to a rocket and save the world from fascists," and added he was "bummed it won’t see the light of day." Directed by Joe Johnson, the original movie stars Billy Campbell as stunt pilot Cliff Secord, who finds a hidden rocket pack that lets him fly without an aircraft.

The device enables heroic deeds but attracts the attention of the FBI and the Nazis who originally stole the technology; the cast also includes Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Sorvino and Timothy Dalton. On release the film received positive to mixed reviews and earned just a bit over its reported $40 million budget.

It had been intended as a trilogy, with Campbell and Connelly signing multi-picture deals, but those plans were ultimately scrapped by Disney.

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