Bryce Dallas Howard Reportedly Attached to Direct Female-Led “Flight of the Navigator” Reboot for Disney+

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Flight of the Navigator could be taking off again. A reboot of the 1986 film is reportedly in the works for Disney+ with Bryce Dallas Howard attached to direct the project.

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What’s Happening:

  • The Hollywood Reporter is writing that Bryce Dallas Howard is attached to direct and produce a reboot of Disney’s Flight of the Navigator, this time with a female as the lead.
  • In addition to Howard, John Swartz and Justin Springer will produce the film which, according to THR, is intended for Disney+.
  • The original film told the story of 12-year-old David Freeman who mysteriously disappears, only to return home years later having not aged a day. At the same time, a UFO is discovered and David is the only one who can fly the strange ship.
  • While Howard’s version would have a female protagonist, it’s not clear if the character would be in the same age range as the original.
  • Flight of the Navigator was released by Disney in 1986, however, the film was produced and funded by the now defunct Producers Sales Organization.
  • THR notes that Disney tried to develop a reboot in 2009 with Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly penning the script, but lost the rights to Lionsgate.
  • The film was worked on at Lionsgate with Joe Henderson attached, but nothing came of the project and now the property is back at Disney.
  • Howard, got her start in Hollywood and has appeared in films such as Jurassic World and Spider-Man 3.
  • In recent years she’s ventured into directing and has helmed two episodes of the Disney+ original Star Wars The Mandalorian as well as one episode of the upcoming The Book of Boba Fett, another Star Wars original coming to Disney+ this winter.
  • Should Flight of the Navigator take off for Disney, it would mark Howard’s feature directorial debut.
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