After 96 Years, Mickey Mouse Leaves Family-Friendly Image Behind

After nearly a century as Disney’s beloved family-friendly icon, Mickey Mouse is taking a dark turn in an upcoming horror film. Inspired by Steamboat Willie (1928), Mickey’s first animated short, this new movie promises to show the Mouse in a completely different light.

In January 2024, Steamboat Willie and other classic Disney animations entered the public domain, marking the end of the iconic Mickey Mouse’s long-standing copyright protection. Disney’s decades-long lobbying for tighter copyright laws, often called the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act,” ultimately failed, allowing the beloved classic to be reinterpreted by other creators. As a result, more Walt Disney Animation Studios films will lose their copyright protections every year on January 1, opening the door for new uses of these films.

Since Steamboat Willie entered the public domain, Mickey has been reimagined in video games, animated shorts, and even late-night TV sketches. But fans will see Mickey in a different, darker form next month. On April 2, 2025, Screamboat will hit theaters, debuting a killer version of Mickey Mouse. Directed by Steven LaMorte and starring David Howard Thornton, known for his role in Terrifier (2016), the film reimagines Mickey as a murderous, monstrous version of the character.

“Be our guest on a New York City ferry ride that turns into a hilarious nightmare when a mischievous mouse named Steamboat Willie becomes a monstrous reality,” the film’s official description reads. “As passengers set sail, their trip turns deadly when the tiny terror unleashes murder and mayhem. Packed with big kills, big laughs, and a miniature menace, ‘Screamboat’ is a cinematic thrill ride that reimagines ‘Steamboat Willie’ like never before!”

Alongside Thornton’s portrayal of the new, twisted Mickey, Screamboat also features parodies of Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Jasmine, and Belle. In addition to Thornton, Screamboat stars Amy Schumacher (also a producer), Allison Pittel, Jesse Posey, Jesse Kove, Kailey Hyman, Rumi C Jean-Louis, Jarlath Conroy, and Charles Edwin Powell, with cameos from Tyler Posey, Brian Quinn, and Joe DeRosa.

The film, produced by LaMorte, Schumacher, Martine Melloul, Steven Della Salla, and Michael Leavy, will be distributed by Iconic Events for a theatrical release. Check out the final trailer below:

This isn’t the first time a Disney character has been given a horror makeover. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey made waves when it premiered in 2023, bringing the honey-loving bear into a slasher film setting. Despite poor critical reception, the film’s success led to a sequel last year.

While Steamboat Willie is now in the public domain, Disney is still committed to protecting its more modern versions of Mickey Mouse.

“More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for The Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise,” said a Disney spokesperson 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.”

Screamboat will be available for digital and home video release after its theatrical release.

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