Barely two days into the public domain, the earliest iteration of Mickey Mouse rampages freely, having slashed free of Disney’s copyright on Monday. Two horror films already focus on the iconic character from “Steamboat Willie.” Just hours after the 1928 short entered the public domain on Monday, a trailer for “Mickey’s Mouse Trap” dropped on YouTube. Another yet-to-be-titled film was announced on Tuesday.
Early Mickey Mouse’s Sinister Debut
Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks directed “Steamboat Willie,” the third cartoon featuring early versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and the first to be released. In this animation, a more menacing Mickey, resembling a rat, captains a boat and crafts musical instruments from other animals.
Seemingly low-budget and campy slasher movies are the first projects announced for Mickey’s public domain debut, mirroring the trend set by Winnie the Pooh’s entry into the public domain in 2022. In just a year, Pooh, without his red shirt, accumulated a heavy body count in the microbudget “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.”
Jamie Bailey Unleashes Horror with “Mickey’s Mouse Trap” Trailer
Directed by Jamie Bailey, the trailer for “Mickey’s Mouse Trap” depicts a comically small Mickey mask worn by what seems to be a human, terrorizing a group of young people at an arcade. The trailer features text that reads, “A place for fun. A place for friends. A place for hunting. The mouse is out.”
In a statement cited by trade publications, director Jamie Bailey expressed,
“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.”
A release date has not been set for the movie.
Late-Night Boat Ride Becomes Desperate Fight in NYC
Director Steven LaMorte, known for directing a horror parody of “The Grinch” titled “The Mean One,” a movie not in the public domain, is at the helm of the second Mickey Mouse horror venture.
Director Steven LaMorte teased an untitled film on Instagram with the logline, “A late-night boat ride turns into a desperate fight for survival in New York City when a mischievous mouse becomes a monstrous reality.”
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In a release cited by the trades, LaMorte stated, “Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror.” The movie, yet to begin production, is set to explore the darker side of the iconic character. As the 95-year copyright expires, the public gains access to only the initial versions of Mickey and Minnie, not the more familiar character designs. Disney emphasized their intent to protect rights in the modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other copyrighted works.
Film Producers Navigate Disney’s Realm with “Steamboat Willie”
Variety reports that director Steven LaMorte revealed the producers of his film are collaborating with a legal team to avoid any conflicts with Disney. The film will refer to the character as Steamboat Willie instead of Mickey Mouse.
“We are doing our due diligence to make sure there’s no question or confusion of what we’re up to,” LaMorte stated, emphasizing their efforts to navigate potential legal complexities and maintain clarity in their creative endeavor.
