Eugene Ashe (“Sylvie’s Love”) has been hired to pen the upcoming Disney+ reboot of the studio’s 1991 period adventure tale and cult classic “The Rocketeer” according to The Wrap.
Ashe replaces Ed Ricourt (“Jessica Jones,” “Now You See Me”) who was first attached several years ago. David Oyelowo, who is producing, has been attached to star in the project for at least two years.
Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin and Timothy Dalton starred in the original about a young pilot in 1938 Los Angeles who finds a revolutionary jetpack. He uses the technology to fight crime.
Something of a precursor to “Iron Man,” the movie’s director Joe Johnston’s work on the film landed him the gig of directing “Captain America: The First Avenger” twenty years later.
Rumors of a “The Return of the Rocketeer” project first emerged ten years ago and has since gone through variations and re-writes. The current iteration in development, which J.D. Dillard was to direct before they exited, sees Oyelowo as a former Tuskegee Airman who inherits the rocket pack.
No word on a director as yet so the film currently has no production start date. Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil’s Mortal Media executive produces.
