If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

The Batman writer pitched a wild Rocketeer sequel to Disney but it didn't fly

100 minutes focusing on how terrible the idea of strapping a rocket to your back is sounds like a wild - but amazing - movie concept

The Rocketeer Screenshot
Image credit: Walt Disney Pictures

The Rocketeer feels like it was created in a bizarre time capsule. It was released in 1991, based on a comic from the 1980s and set in the 1930s. Despite the now-dated special effects and cheesy dialogue, the film has had a cult following for years. So much so, in fact, that the writer of Matt Reeves' The Batman movies pitched a sequel to Disney that sounds absolutely wild in the most brilliant way.

Recently, it was the 35th anniversary of The Rocketeer’s release, and Mattson Tomlin made a surprising disclosure to celebrate. He is probably best known for having written 2022's The Batman and the upcoming The Batman Part II, but he once pitched an unhinged sequel to The Rocketeer to Disney that we are so disappointed we didn’t get to see.

“Pitched a sequel [to The Rocketeer] with my pal JD Dillard to Disney last year that took place in realtime,” Mattson Tomlin said in a social media post. “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.”

That sounds like a wild sequel to a movie that failed at the box office but, like many films, has gained a cult following over the years. This version of The Rocketeer sounds like the hallway scene from Daredevil, but with a high-powered explosive strapped to someone’s back. We didn’t think we needed a sequel to The Rocketeer, but Mattson Tomlin may just have proven us wrong here.


Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to:

Trent Cannon

Trent Cannon: Trent is a freelance writer who has been covering anime, video games, and pop culture for a decade. (He/Him)

Comments

Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.

View Comments (0)

Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy