As we reported (uh, less than an hour ago), the classic animated short Steamboat Willie (1928) became part of the public domain when the new year began, and it didn’t take long for someone to announce a brand-new slasher based on that short’s version of Mickey Mouse (using modern versions of Disney’s iconic mascot is still very much a no-no). We weren’t surprised about this, necessarily, but we were somewhat rattled to see how quickly the inevitable occurred.
Well, guess what? There’s more where that came from:
“Steven LaMorte is set to direct an untitled horror-comedy based on Mickey’s cartoon debut. In it, a sadistic mouse will torment a group of unsuspecting ferry passengers. Production is set to begin in the spring.”
That’s Variety reporting the news that Steven LaMorte, director of last year’s The Mean One (a horror comedy based on The Grinch, of How the Grinch Stole Christmas fame), has signed on to helm another public domain horror film based on Disney’s classic cartoon short. This one sounds like it’ll at least be loosely modeled on the original Steamboat Willie – hey, it’s got a boat in it! – but unlike Mickey’s Mouse Trap, LaMorte’s still gotta shoot his version.
Says LaMorte:
“It all comes from our love of these characters. Filmmakers — we’re all kids in the sandbox. We love taking them and playing with them in different ways. It’s not a desire to ruin these characters or make a quick buck, but to love them and honor them and show them in a new light.”
As mentioned previously, we were not surprised to wake up and hear about Mickey’s Mouse Trap this morning, but we will express some amount of surprise that a second Steamboat Willie-inspired horror film has been announced within an hour of us writing up the first one. Who knows how many Steamboat Willie-inspired horror films will be announced before the end of the day? Four? Twelve? One hundred? We’ll have to wait and see.
Nothing further to report on the ongoing public domain horror pandemic, but we will of course keep you informed as further updates roll in. Hug your loved ones.
