Additional Talent Join D23's Upcoming Rocketeer Event

DIRECTOR JOE JOHNSTON JOINS BILL CAMPBELL, KEVIN SMITH AND MANY MORE FOR D23’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE ROCKETEER AT THE HISTORIC EL CAPITAN THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD, JUNE 21, 2011

BURBANK, CA, June 8, 2011 – Acclaimed director Joe Johnston joins an out-of-this-world panel as D23: The Official Disney Fan Club celebrates the 20th anniversary of The Rocketeer. Johnston, whose work for Disney includes The Rocketeer, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Hildalgo, also helms this summer’s highly anticipated Captain America: The First Avenger. He joins the Rocketeer himself, actor Bill Campbell, make-up designer Rick Baker, screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo and renowned illustrator William Stout to honor this Disney film favorite.* Writer/producer/director Kevin Smith – whose film credits include Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma – will host the panel, which also includes rare film footage and photos, immediately before a special screening of the film on June 21, 2011, at the legendary El Capitan Theatre, where the film premiered two decades ago.

The evening celebration includes the first-ever, public presentation of the new, digitally remastered and projected version of The Rocketeer. All audience members will receive a complimentary Rocketeer 20th anniversary program and D23 Members and their guests will receive a special commemorative Rocketeer gift.

Following the screening, the celebration moves to the Hollywood Museum, located in the nearby historic Max Factor building, where guests are invited to explore four floors of movie memories and exhibits highlighted by a special presentation of props and costumes from The Rocketeer, curated exclusively for this event by the Walt Disney Archives.

Rocketeer fans will also have access to a selection of commemorative and limited-edition Rocketeer merchandise and collectibles, available for purchase from D23 and event co-sponsor, Creature Features. Merchandise includes Bulldog Cafe coffee mugs and T-shirts, Rocketeer black light and 20th anniversary posters, assorted commemorative T-shirts and pins, Hughes Industries giclee prints, and the limited edition Cirrus X-3 double pin set (packaged inside a miniature replica of the Hughes Industries 1939 New York World’s Fair prop folder used by Howard Hughes – actor Terry O’ Quinn – in the film). A highlight of the merchandise offerings is the highly detailed Bull Dog Cafe Art Directors Model, limited to an edition size of only 23.

 

The Rocketeer follows the adventures of stunt pilot Cliff Secord (Billy Campbell) who discovers a stolen rocket pack and sets off on a series of heroic (and sometimes hilarious) adventures that attract the attention of Howard Hughes, the FBI, gangsters, a band of Nazis and one aspiring actress, namely Cliff’s girlfriend Jenny (Oscar® winner Jennifer Connolly). Directed by Johnston, the film also stars Terry O’Quinn, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton and Paul Sorvino.  Check out the trailer at: http://d23.disney.go.com/expo/062111.EE.EVENT_Rocketeer.html

Tickets are on sale now to both the general public and D23 Members online at www.elcapitantickets.com or by calling (818) 845-3110. Event ticket cost is $50 per person. Event check-in begins at 6:45 p.m. at the El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd; panel and screening begins at 7:30 p.m. The Walt Disney Archives exhibit will follow the screening from 9:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Museum located at 1660 N. Highland Ave.