Sizemore, Hickam Launch December Sky Pre-Production Targeting Mercer and McDowell

Kevin Sizemore and Homer Hickam have moved a new Coalwood-era motion picture into pre-production, with Mercer and McDowell counties identified as the primary shooting locations. The film, titled December Sky and adapted from Hickam’s book The Coalwood Way, is intended to continue the Rocket Boys and Coalwood story that became widely known after the 1999 film October Sky.

Homer Hickam described December Sky as an "equal" to the October Sky story rather than a strict sequel or prequel. Sizemore, a Mercer County native, told reporters he and Hickam want to shoot the picture in-state and are assembling a film fund and production team. The pair are seeking financial backers and production support, and they are working with the West Virginia Film Office as they develop the screenplay and funding plan.

The project is still in the funding stage. Producers say the screenplay draws on Hickam’s Coalwood-era stories and that final casting, scheduling and crew hires will follow once financing is secured. If production proceeds in Mercer and McDowell, the county economy would see the immediate impacts typical of on-location shoots: demand for accommodation, food service, local hires for technical and support roles, and spending by cast and crew on local vendors and services. The West Virginia Film Office’s involvement signals the production is pursuing in-state incentives and support that could help move the project from pre-production into principal photography.

For McDowell County, the cultural link to Coalwood and the Rocket Boys narrative gives the project local resonance beyond direct spending. The Rocket Boys story is part of the region’s identity, and renewed attention could increase interest in heritage tourism and local storytelling initiatives. Local officials and film office representatives have been cited as engaged with the project during its early stages and will likely play a role in permitting, location coordination and workforce training if filming proceeds here.

Timing remains uncertain. The immediate next steps are raising capital for the film fund, finalizing the production team and locking locations and schedules. For residents, the announcement means a possible influx of short-term jobs and contract work, along with the broader cultural payoff of seeing a familiar Coalwood era portrayed on screen. The project’s advancement will hinge on landing financial backers and completing pre-production milestones; community leaders and local businesses say they are watching closely as plans develop.