It seems that when our childhood favorites enter the public domain, an onslaught ofhorrormovies will quickly follow. Such is the case withMickey Mousewho, following the 1928 version of the character as shown inSteamboat Willienow being in the hands of the public, will terrorize a group of unsuspecting ferry passengers (viaVariety). That’s right, this is another horror movie version of the character separate from the also announcedMickey’s Mouse Trap. Check out our first look at theSteamboat Williehorror flick below.
The earliest version of Mickey and Minnie Mouse entered the public domain on Monday, meaning that anyone can now do whatever they like with these takes on the characters. And it seems everyone has been eagerly awaiting to contort them into movie monsters.
This terrifying take on Mickey Mouse will refer to the character as “Steamboat Willie,” a sadistic mouse who lives to torment the passengers on his ferry. Director Steven LaMorte, who has experience in such things after turning The Grinch into aslasher villain in 2022’sThe Mean One, is at the helm of this Mickey horror movie, with production set to begin in the spring. See what LaMorte had to say about the project below:
“Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror. It’s a project I’ve been dreaming of, and I can’t wait to unleash this twisted take on this beloved character to the world.”
“It all comes from our love of these characters. Filmmakers — we’re all kids in the sandbox. We love taking them and playing with them in different ways. It’s not a desire to ruin these characters or make a quick buck, but to love them and honor them and show them in a new light.”
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Fans Take to Social to React to the Original Mickey Mouse Now Being in the Public Domain
The copyright toSteamboat Willieheld by Disney expired on Monday, meaning that the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse are now open to all. However, the studio does still retain the rights to the later versions, and will no doubt be keeping a close eye on all of the horror (and other) projects that are now emerging.
Movie lovers,Mickey Mousefans, and everyone in between have since taken to social media to react to the beloved character now being in the public’s hands…
And it seems that many saw the transformation ofSteamboat Willie’sMickey from a lovable, boat-steering rodent to a vicious horror icon coming a mile away…and they’re already a little tired of it.
Not only will Mickey torment people on a ferry, he will also take on the role of the main villain in the upcoming co-op horror video gameInfestation 88, “where players are hunted by the original Mickey Mouse.”
His image will also be used by a masked killer who decides to play a violent game at an amusement arcade during a birthday party inMickey’s Mouse Trap. you may check out the newly released trailer below.
