There are plenty of movie franchises out there that are potentially ripe for a reboot, but I certainly didn’t think that Disney’s The Rocketeer would ever fall into that category. The original film, based on the comic by Dave Stevens, was a box office disappointment back in 1991, making just $46 million despite an extensive multi-million dollar marketing campaign and despite featuring then-current James Bond actor Timothy Dalton as a villain. Some thought that the Disney label scared off older audiences, while others thought the period setting had limited its appeal. Either way, Disney’s new head honcho Alan Horn now seems to feel that the property still has some life left in it, and he is reportedly in the process of setting up a reboot. Considering that comic book movies are a much bigger deal today, will moviegoers be more receptive the second time around?

According to Vulture, Disney is currently in the process of meeting with writers for a new take on The Rocketeer. Additional information is still somewhat scarce, and it’s unclear if they will maintain the 1930s setting or if they are looking to modernize it in some way. Considering that Dave Stevens died of leukemia back in 2008, he will obviously not be involved.

It has been hinted that the character’s similarity to Iron Man may be one of the reasons they want to introduce him to a new audience, but if you ask me that’s a bit of a stretch. They both fly via mechanical means, and that’s essentially where the similarities end. I do think that Joe Johnston’s directorial job on Captain America: The First Avenger has led to some people revisiting The Rocketeer, especially since it was re-released on Blu-ray just last year. Are you interested in a new version of The Rocketeer? Is the original forgotten gem or should it just be left forgotten?