Disney Scraps Long-Awaited Sci-Fi Sequel: The Rocketeer’s Return

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A much-anticipated follow-up to a beloved sci-fi film, adored by audiences of all ages, unfortunately didn’t proceed due to Disney‘s decision. Despite continuously launching numerous new movies and online series, some projects don’t advance beyond their initial planning stages at the studio.

It appears that Disney has allegedly shelved plans for “The Return of the Rocketeer,” a proposed sequel to the 1991 movie “The Rocketeer.” Despite discussions spanning over many years, development on the sequel had yet to commence in the 34 years following the initial film’s release.

Based on Disney Plus’s announcement, the film would narrate the tale of a former Tuskegee airman, a group primarily comprised of African-American military pilots during World War II, who inherits the Rocketeer role. This project was in development by David Oyelowo and Yoruba Saxon, his production company. Blake Griffin, the ex-NBA star, along with Ryan Kalil from Mortal Media, were slated to serve as executive producers.

According to Oyelowo’s statement to the Los Angeles Times in late April, it seems that the film is currently not progressing. He mentioned that with other films, he felt as though the momentum was superficial and not genuinely heartfelt, which made some new projects more challenging to bring to life.

Onyeka perfectly fits what we aim to achieve, yet it highlights the difficulty we face. Our project gained momentum following the death of George Floyd, during a period when there was a shift in cultural perception and an eagerness to improve. However, we find ourselves in a time where it’s clear that much of this desire for change was superficial rather than deeply rooted. Consequently, projects such as Onyeka are being scrutinized. Similarly, ‘Return of the Rocketeer’ at Disney is also facing challenges.

First appearing on screens in 1991, The Rocketeer followed the adventures of a daring stunt pilot with romantic feelings for an actress. Little did he know, a jet pack was concealed within a biplane. Transforming into The Rocketeer, he embarks on a mission to shield the actress from a sinister actor and Nazi forces, who aim to seize the technology for their own nefarious purposes. You can catch this movie now on Disney+.

Other Recently Canceled Projects From Disney

Disney’s latest cancellation – the sequel to The Rocketeer – isn’t the only high-profile project they’ve put on hold recently. In fact, over the past few weeks and months, they’ve paused production on several other notable productions as well.

In 2025, Anika Noni Rose, who played Tiana in the movie “The Princess and the Frog”, expressed her disappointment when a planned series about Tiana was cancelled. This would have given her an opportunity to continue Tiana’s story from 2009. She found it hard not to be disheartened by the project being terminated, but she took the time to thank everyone involved and the fans for their support during this venture.

Furthermore, Bryce Dallas Howard, director of “The Mandalorian”, talked about her Disney+ project based on “Witch Mountain” not proceeding in August 2024. Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, renowned for their work on “Star Trek: Picard” and “12 Monkeys”, were intended to script the project, but it unfortunately didn’t come to fruition.

At present, it seems like “The Return of the Rocketeer” won’t be unveiled anytime soon unless Disney manages to resolve any ongoing issues related to its production. Given Disney’s dynamic approach to streaming releases, the probability of this happening is rather slim.

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2025-05-11 11:37