According to Deadline, a revival of the classic “The Rocketeer” is coming to Disney+. “Return of the Rocketeer” will be produced by David and Jessica Oyelowo. David Oyelow (“Selma,” “Star Wars: Rebels”) may star in the streaming film. Ed Ricourt will write the script.
“Return of the Rocketeer” will focus on a retired Tuskegee airman who becomes the Rocketeer.
The original movie premiered in 1991. The film earned nearly $46 million at the box office. It remains a cult classic to this day.
This is not the first time we have reported on a reboot for “The Rocketeer.” Disney was reportedly working on an updated version in 2016. Disney continues to release “The Rocketeer” merchandise, such as pins, from time to time.
Billie Eilish released a trailer today for her new Disney+ original concert experience, “Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles.”
Watch the trailer below.
Filmed at the iconic Hollywood Bowl with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the unprecedented Disney+ Original Special will include all 16 tracks from Eilish’s new album performed in order. The event is directed by Robert Rodriguez and Patrick Osborne.
“Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles” comes to Disney+ on September 3.
The Scarlett Johansson (AKA “Black Widow”) and Disney dispute continues. If you need to be caught up, Johansson recently announced she is suing Disney for the release of Black Widow on Disney+ which she says was not part of their original film contract. Even though the COVID 19 pandemic hit the actress wanted an exclusive theatrical release. Disney responded with disappointment. Disney’s upcoming “Tower of Terror” film is currently on hold as Disney has reportedly cut all ties with Johansson. With all of the Johansson news highlights, she was privately keeping hidden that she was pregnant and as of a few days ago celebrated the arrival of a baby boy! In other words – there has been a LOT going on! Now, Disney is asking for private arbitration. It sounds like Johansson’s lawyer is not happy about it.
On Friday night (August 20), the Walt Disney Company filed to move the Black Widow and Scarlett Johannson lawsuit out of the public court and behind closed doors with a confidential arbitration. As reported by Entertainment Weekly: “In the filing, Disney took aim at Periwinkle Entertainment, the company through which Johansson negotiated her contract and the official plaintiff in the case. Disney’s motion argues that Periwinkle agreed to resolve all disputes “‘arising out of, in connection with, or relating to’ Scarlett Johansson’s acting services for Black Widow” through arbitration, and accuses Johansson of legal chicanery to attempt to take the dispute to court.”
The actress’s lawyer, John Berlinski, responded: “After initially responding to this litigation with a misogynistic attack against Scarlett Johansson, Disney is now, predictably, trying to hide its misconduct in a confidential arbitration,” said Berlinski. “Why is Disney so afraid of litigating this case in public? Because it knows that Marvel’s promises to give Black Widow a typical theatrical release ‘like its other films’ had everything to do with guaranteeing that Disney wouldn’t cannibalize box office receipts in order to boost Disney+ subscriptions. Yet that is exactly what happened — and we look forward to presenting the overwhelming evidence that proves it.”
The Marvel movie recently became the highest-grossing film at the domestic box office since COVID-19 began, with $179.3 million. In its motion on Friday, Disney revealed a rare Disney Plus disclosure that Black Widow had also grossed “more than $125 million in streaming and download retail receipts.”
After the extremely popular Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, we now have information about Captain America 4. It was revealed that Anthony Mackie will be back to play Captain America.
It’s currently unclear if the film will include Sebastian Stan, who stars as “The Winter Soldier” in the Disney+ series and multiple Captain American movies.
We don’t know a lot about the film except that it is being written by “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ” head writer and creator Malcolm Spellman, along with series staff writer Dalan Musson.
The villainous Disney character, Cruella de Vil, was first introduced in Disney’s animated classic One Hundred and One Dalmations. While Disney does a great job of making sure viewers dislike the villain in the story, villains are rather intriguing, to say the least, and do keep the plot going strong. Disney’s live-action Cruella launched in theaters and on Disney+ around the globe on May 26 and took the Cruella del Vil character to a whole new level with an intriguing back story as to why Estella (AKA Cruella) embraced her wicked side. The film was reviewed by many and the ratings were outstanding. In the midst of a mess between Marvel star Scarlett Johansson (AKA Black Widow) and Disney, we are thrilled to hear some good news as Cruella will be getting a sequel… and yes, the incredible actress, Emma Stone, will once again star as the villainous Cruella.
As reported in an exclusive by Deadline: “Oscar-winner Emma Stone has closed a deal to star in the sequel to Cruella, in what is a very good sign for Disney as it secures talent in the wake of some criticism of its theatrical-Disney+ Premier model. Cruella, due to the pandemic, was released in theaters and on Disney+ PVOD tier on May 26, earning more than $222 million in worldwide ticket sales. The release of Cruella 2 is a ways off, and it’s not certain at this time whether the movie will be a pure theatrical release or like its predecessor released simultaneously in homes.”
Endeavor executive chairman Patrick Whitesell had this to say about the agency’s client Stone and her Cruella 2 deal. “While the media landscape has been disrupted in a meaningful way for all distributors, their creative partners cannot be left on the sidelines to carry a disproportionate amount of the downside without the potential for upside. This agreement demonstrates that there can be an equitable path forward that protects artists and aligns studios’ interests with talent. We are proud to work alongside Emma and Disney and appreciate the studio’s willingness to recognize her contributions as a creative partner. We are hopeful that this will open the door for more members of the creative community to participate in the success of new platforms.”
With the recent release of Disney’s Jungle Cruise on Disney+ and in theaters, star Dwayne Johnson has made it clear no lawsuits are coming from him. It seems the same goes without saying for Emma Stone with this new “Cruella 2” deal, even though Cruella was also dropped on Disney+. Meanwhile, what’s to come of Scarlett Johansson’s career with Disney? It seems Disney has recently cut all ties with the Black Widow actress. We’ll keep you posted as the saga unfolds – but more importantly when dates are announced for the Cruella sequel!