Sequels
From the beginning of the process of making The Rocketeer, creator Dave Stevens and screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo envisioned it as the first entry of a trilogy. Disney, in particular, hoped the film would carry a vein similar to the Indiana Jones franchise. Both Campbell and Connelly were contracted for sequels; Campbell for two more and Connelly for only one. However, with the film's disappointing box office performance, plans for a sequel were halted in July 1991. " the movie didn’t make as much money as Disney had hoped", Campbell reflected in a January 2008 interview with MTV News. "And that coupled with the acrimonious relationship that the director and the studio had, contributed to them not even considering it."
Although the calls for a sequel remain unrequited, as with many films of this genre, the movie has built up a cult following in both the United States and Japan, where until 2008, Medicom, a major toy manufacturer, issued two versions of 12" poseable action figures and replica helmets based on the film. The original Dave Stevens comics are still in demand and movie memorabilia continues to have a ready audience. In addition, Joe Johnston's work on this film led to him being hired 20 years later to direct another period superhero film, Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011.
As of 2012, Disney is reported to be developing a "reboot" of The Rocketeer. Saw series creator James Wan has talked about directing the reboot.
Read more about this topic: The Rocketeer (film)