Steamboat Willie is getting a murderous makeover in a new horror movie based on the classic 1928 animated short featuring Mickey Mouse.
A day after the early version of Mickey from Steamboat Willie entered the public domain, director Steven LaMorte announced the development of horror-comedy based on the cartoon. But instead of whistling at the wheel, the "sadistic" mascot will be eliciting a chorus of squeals from "a group of unsuspecting ferry passengers."
According to Variety, production on the untitled Steamboat Willie-inspired scarefest will begin this spring as LaMorte gears up to put yet another scary spin on a beloved tale following on from his 2022 slasher film The Mean One, which offered a horror retelling of Dr. Seuss' 1957 children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
"Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror," LaMorte said of his next undertaking. "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," he added. "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."
U.S. law allows a copyright to endure for 95 years, and Mickey made his big screen debut in Steamboat Willie in 1928, which means the characters from the well-known animated film entered the public domain on January 1, 2024, prompting the announcement of several projects, including a Mickey Mouse-inspired horror game.
In addition to Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh's Tigger has also entered the public domain as the character first appeared in A.A. Milne's The House in Pooh Corner in 1928. Tigger will appear in Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, the sequel to Rhys Waterfield's child-ruining horror flick, which will bounce into theaters this February.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X @AdeleAnkers.
