 Development for The Rocketeer started as far back as 1983 , when Stevens sold the film rights . Steve Miner and William Dear considered directing The Rocketeer before Johnston signed on . Screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo had creative differences with Disney , which caused the film to languish in development hell . The studio also intended to change the trademark helmet design ; Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted a straight NASA @-@ type helmet , but Johnston convinced the studio otherwise . Johnston also had to convince Disney to let him cast unknown actor Billy Campbell in the lead role . Filming for The Rocketeer lasted from September 19 , 1990 to January 22 , 1991 . The visual effects sequences were created and designed by Industrial Light & Magic , and were supervised by animation director Wes Takahashi . 
