Disney short Steamboat Willie entered the public domain this week, and there’s already a slasher movie featuring Mickey Mouse as the killer.
JM Barrie’s Peter Pan can now be exploited, as can Tigger from the AA Milne’s books. But the big news is that the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse is now available.
Mickey Mouse slasher explained as Disney icon enters public domain
As soon as this early version of the animated mouse entered the public domain, the trailer for a slasher movie called Mickey’s Mouse Trapdropped online.
The movie is directed by Jamie Bailey, who says in a statement (as perThe Hollywood Reporter): “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.”
The horror movie stars Sophie McIntosh, Callum Sywyk, Allegra Nocita, Ben Harris, Damir Kovic, Mackenzie Mills, Nick Biskupek, and Simon Phillips.
Steamboat Willie is an eight-minute animated short, written and directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Released in November 1928, it features the first onscreen appearances of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse (aside from test screenings of another animated short called Plane Crazy earlier that year).
The plot finds the animated mouse sailing a steamboat, picking up livestock, falling out with the ship’s captain, and meeting Minnie.
And it’s onlythisiteration of the Mickey character that has entered the public domain, meaning no color, no gloves, and no high-pitched voice.
Mickey’s Mouse Trap doesn’t have a release date, but the filmmakers are hoping to have it out in March. For more movie news,head here.
Chris Tilly is the TV & Movies Editor at Dexerto. He has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Newspaper Journalism, and over the last 20 years, he’s worked for the likes of Time Out, IGN, and Fandom. Chris loves Star Wars, Marvel, DC, sci-fi, and especially horror, while he knows maybe too much about Alan Partridge. You can email him here: chris.tilly@dexerto.com.
