Following “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey,” brace yourselves for horror films inspired by “Steamboat Willie” as the 1928 version of Mickey Mouse enters the public domain.
Indie horror producer Steven LaMorte is gearing up to direct an untitled horror-comedy based on Mickey’s cartoon debut, where a malevolent mouse will torment unsuspecting ferry passengers. Production is scheduled to commence in the spring.
LaMorte, known for directing the horror parody “The Mean One” based on the Grinch, is working on this project while ensuring legal compliance, given Disney’s vigilant defense of trademarks.
Despite the expiration of Disney’s copyright for “Steamboat Willie” and the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the company still holds copyrights for the later, more familiar character iterations.
To avoid legal complications, the film will not refer to the character as “Mickey Mouse” but rather as “Steamboat Willie.” LaMorte reassures that the producers are collaborating with a legal team to stay well within the boundaries of the law.
This announcement comes on the heels of the release of a trailer for another public domain horror-comedy titled “Mickey’s Mouse Trap,” directed by Jamie Bailey.
Set in an amusement arcade, the film’s release date is yet to be finalized, but the filmmakers anticipate it hitting the screens in March.
