Mickey Mouse seems to be the focus in the horror/slasher world as yet another movie will be popping up this year centered on the iconic Disney character as well as they iconic 1928 film ‘Steamboat Willie’ which entered the public domain on January 1st, 2024.
Director Steven LaMorte will be directing the new film, currently untitled, and spoke about it with Variety. LaMorte also directed “The Mean One,” which was a horror parody of the Grinch.
“Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror,” LaMorte said in a press release, vie Variety. “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,” LaMorte said in the interview. “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.”
Disney stated that they will be working to protect their copyrights, and LaMorte said that the producers are working with a legal team to ensure that they work well within the law.
“We are doing our due diligence to make sure there’s no question or confusion of what we’re up to,” he said. “This is our version of a public domain character. It’s a scary thrill ride with heart and humor, based on this character that everybody knows.”
Disney issued the following late in 2023.
“We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters,” Disney said in a statement last month.
In the movie the character will not be called Mickey Mouse, but Steamboat Willie.
It is unclear if there are plans for a run in theaters or on a horror streaming platform when the movie officially rolls out, but stay tuned for more as detailed are released.
