Murderous Mickey? Why a new ‘Steamboat Willie’ horror flick is planned without Disney
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The cartoon that launched an entire beloved — and billion-dollar — franchise will receive a dramatic makeover.
And it may fuel nightmares for years to come.
When it was announced that a pioneering version of Mickey Mouse (yes, the Mickey Mouse) would enter public domain on Jan. 2, fans assumed many would be waiting in the wings to pounce on the iconic Disney character, ready and willing to replace those cartoon reddish pants and canary yellow bow tie with something more sinister.
But it’s not that specific version of Mickey.
The movie, which so far remains untitled, will instead feature a savage take on “Steamboat Willie,” the first-ever distributed adaption of the cartoon mouse, who is seen in black-and-white guiding a steamboat down a river.
Director and horror movie producer Steven LaMorte announced Monday that he will be the mastermind behind turning the “Steamboat Willie” — who made his debut with synchronized sound in 1928 — into a slasher film.
“Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror,” LaMorte said in a news release, according to Variety. “It’s a project I’ve been dreaming of, and I can’t wait to unleash this twisted take on this beloved character to the world.”
The most well-known versions of Mickey and his counterpart Minnie aren’t yet on the remodeling chopping block, so don’t think it will happen to more recent versions of the Disney legends anytime soon.
“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,” a Disney spokesperson said according to Deadline.
“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, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters.”
Why is ‘Steamboat Willie’ fair game?
Duke Law School’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain released its rundown of creative works whose copyright protections lapsed in the United States on Jan. 1. It includes “Steamboat Willie” and other famous works like J.M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan,” Bertolt Brecht’s “The Threepenny Opera” in its original German (this includes the German composition of “Mack the Knife,” which was then made famous by Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra) and “The Man Who Laughs,” an adaptation by Victor Huge, which inspired the famous “Batman” villain The Joker.
An iconic piece of culture becoming public domain is an important part of “The Lifecycle of Copyright,” according to the Library of Congress.
“Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power, ‘To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Rights to their respective Writings and Discoveries,’” the article says.
“While copyright remains an important tool to promote creative expression, copyright protection does not last forever, and when a copyright expires, the work enters the public domain. Works in the public domain are available for use by everyone without restrictions.”
To make sure that LaMorte doesn’t tread into Disney waters, he and his producers are working with a legal team, Variety reports. This includes staying away from even the name Mickey Mouse, and simply going with “Steamboat Willie.”
“We are doing our due diligence to make sure there’s no question or confusion of what we’re up to,” he said, according to Variety. “This is our version of a public domain character. It’s a scary thrill ride with heart and humor, based on this character that everybody knows.”
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