A new horror movie inspired by Steamboat Willie (1928), the first film starring Mickey Mouse, is set to hit theaters next month.
Steamboat Willie and other classic Disney animations entered the public domain in 2024 when Disney’s 96-year-old copyright protection expired. After years of Disney’s lobbying for stricter copyright laws, their efforts to maintain control over early works like Steamboat Willie were ultimately unsuccessful.
Critics had previously dubbed the push for these protections the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act.” As of January 2025, more Disney Animation films lost copyright protection, and every January from now on, more of Disney’s early works will enter the public domain.
With Steamboat Willie now in the public domain, creatives have already started reimagining Mickey and other Disney classics in new ways. In fact, over the past few years, the black-and-white Mickey Mouse from Steamboat Willie has appeared in various video games, animated shorts, and even late-night television sketches. However, next month will be the first time Disney fans can experience Mickey in a completely different light—on the big screen.
Screamboat (2025) will make its theatrical debut on April 2. Directed by Steven LaMorte, the film stars David Howard Thornton, known for his role in Terrifier (2016), as a twisted version of Mickey Mouse. Thornton, who also starred in The Mean One (2022), a parody of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” plays a murderous Mickey who takes the world by storm in this dark comedy.
“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,” reads the film’s official description. “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!”
The film features not only a twisted take on Mickey but also parodies of classic Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and more. 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, Charles Edwin Powell, Tyler Posey, Brian Quinn, and Joe DeRosa.
Produced by LaMorte, Schumacher, Martine Melloul, Steven Della Salla, and Michael Leavy, Screamboat is being distributed theatrically by Iconic Events. Watch the trailer below:
This isn’t the first time a Disney character has been reimagined in a horror setting. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey went viral when it premiered in 2023, proving that fans are eager for darker versions of beloved characters. The success of Blood and Honey led to a sequel despite poor critical reception.
Although Steamboat Willie is now part of the public domain, Disney remains vigilant in protecting its modern-day versions of Mickey Mouse. The company has made it clear that creators can’t use Mickey’s current, recognizable appearance for such projects.
“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.”
After Screamboat premieres in theaters on April 2, it will be available for digital and home video release, giving fans another chance to see this twisted take on the iconic character.
Should creatives make more adult-targeted Mickey Mouse content? Disney Fanatic would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
