The Batman 2 writer Mattson Tomlin says Disney turned down his idea for a sequel to the 1991 superhero movie The Rocketeer.
"Pitched a sequel with my pal JD Dillard to Disney last year that took place in real time," Tomlin tweeted. "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. Bummed it won’t see the light of day."
Directed by Joe Johnson, the movie stars Billy Campbell as a stunt pilot named Cliff Secord who finds a hidden rocket pack that lets him fly without needing an aircraft. This allows him to do heroic deeds with ease... which attracts the attention of the FBI and the Nazis who stole the technology in the first place. The cast includes Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Sorvino, and Timothy Dalton.
Pitched a sequel with my pal JD Dillard to Disney last year that took place in realtime. 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. Bummed it won’t see the light of day. https://t.co/TxYNSNZuwgJune 22, 2026
At the time of release, the film received positive to mixed reviews and earned just a bit over its reported budget of $40 million. The Rocketeer was intended to become a trilogy, with Campbell and Connelly signing multi-picture deals, but was ultimately scrapped by Disney. A reboot was announced in 2012, and then again in 2016. In 2020, it was reported that JD Dillard would direct a sequel with Tomlin writing the screenplay... which was unfortunately scrapped. I think we'll get a theatrical rerelease at some point.
The Batman 2, starring Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, Scarlett Johansson, and Sebastian Stan, hits cinemas on October 1, 2027. For more, check out the rest of the upcoming DC movies in the works.
