Unleashing Steamboat Willie's Dark Side: Early Mickey Mouse Haunts Horror Films

Breaking free from Disney's copyright shackles on Monday, the iconic character from Steamboat Willie is now taking center stage in the eerie world of horror cinema. Mere hours after the 1928 short entered the public domain, YouTube witnessed the release of the trailer for "Mickey’s Mouse Trap." Another unnamed film, set to delve into the darker side of early Mickey Mouse, was unveiled on Tuesday.

 

"Steamboat Willie" showcased the initial renditions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. This third cartoon collaboration marked their debut release, portraying a more menacing Mickey, resembling a rat more than a mouse, steering a boat and crafting musical instruments from other animals.

 

In an uncanny twist of fate, the initial projects revolving around this newly liberated character take the form of seemingly low-budget and campy slasher movies—a trend not entirely unprecedented. Winnie the Pooh, sans his signature red shirt, stepped into the public domain in 2022, and within a year, embarked on a blood-soaked adventure in the microbudget film "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey."

 

The trailer for "Mickey’s Mouse Trap," helmed by director Jamie Bailey, unfolds with what appears to be a human donning a comically small Mickey mask, terrorizing a group of young people at an arcade.

 

"‘A place for fun. A place for friends. A place for hunting,’" declares the text flashing on the screen during the trailer. The mouse is on the loose.

 

Director Jamie Bailey commented, "We just wanted to have fun with it all. I mean, it’s Steamboat Willie’s Mickey Mouse murdering people. It’s ridiculous. We ran with it and had fun doing it, and I think it shows." No release date has been confirmed for the film.

 

The second film, spearheaded by director Steven LaMorte, previously known for a horror parody of The Grinch, aptly titled "The Mean One," not in the public domain, takes the audience on a harrowing journey during a late-night boat ride turned desperate fight for survival in New York City.

 

"Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror," LaMorte stated in a release. The movie, still in pre-production, is yet to receive a title.

 

With the expiration of the 95-year copyright, the public gains access only to the initial versions of Mickey and Minnie—not the more familiar character designs.

 

Disney asserted, "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."

 

LaMorte, acknowledging the legal complexities, mentioned that the producers are diligently working with a legal team to avoid any conflicts with Disney. Their cautious approach involves referring to their raging rodent as Steamboat Willie instead of Mickey Mouse.

 

"We are doing our due diligence to make sure there’s no question or confusion about what we’re up to," he emphasized in an interview with Variety.