1928’s short animated movie, Steamboat Willie, directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iweks is considered the debut of famous cartoon characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The movie was the third Mickey Mouse project to be produced but the first to be distributed for the audience to watch.

Steamboat Willie was one of the first movies to feature a fully post-produced soundtrack. It rose to fame partly because of its content, which introduced the world to two of the most famous cartoon characters. However, another reason was also the kind of technology that was used. Recently, fans took to their social media to express their disappointment with an announcement by filmmaker Steven LaMorte. Why? Let’s find out.

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Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie
Steamboat Willie

Steamboat Willie horror movie announced as 1928 version of Mickey Mouse enters public domain

In the wake of 2024, fan-favorite cartoon character Mickey Mouse’s Steamboat Willie version entered the public domain in the United States. According to the NY Times, thousands of copyrighted works published in 1928 are now entering the public domain after their 95-year term comes to an end.

Director Steven LaMorte is set to direct a horror movie using the fan-favorite cartoon character. The production of the movie is scheduled to begin in spring and the character will go by the name Steamboat Willie and not Mickey Mouse. In the press release via Variety, Steven LaMorte said,

“Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror. It’s a project I’ve ben dreaming of, and I can’t wait to unleash this twisted take on this beloved character to the world.”

Mickey Mouse's 1928 version to get a horror movie
The Mean One

Steamboat Willie won’t be LaMorte’s first horror movie as he directed The Mean One, which is a horror parody of the Grinch. Upon asking about the desire to venture into making horror adaptations of cartoon characters, LaMorte said,

“It all comes from our love of these characters. Filmmakers-we’re all kids in a 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.”

After losing the beloved 1928 version of Mickey and Minnie Mouse’s copyright to the public domain, Disney assured the audience that they still held the copyright for modern versions. LaMorte has also assured that they are going to make sure that they stay well within the law, and that their horror movie is going to be just their version of the public domain character.

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Steamboat Willie horror movie announcement disappoints fans

With the 1928 version of Mickey Mouse entering the public domain, the announcement of the horror movie has disappointed fans. They have taken to social media to express that they weren’t expecting a horror movie being made from one of their classic childhood characters.

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Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s Mouse Trap
Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s Mouse Trap

One of the users noted,

“Can we do something original for once instead of immediately going for a horror movie of a beloved childhood classic,” while another wrote, “Oh great first Mickey’s Mouse Trap and now this. I know it’s public domain, but what is with these people turning our favorite cartoon characters into horror flick monsters?”

Fans have called this move from the director an easy cash grab adding that it “could be a low-budget crappy horror movie to cash in on the fact you can now use this well-known character.” People simply asked the makers what they needed the turn Steamboat Willie into a horror movie.

With the tweets that followed, it pretty much seemed like the fans were not ready to see their childhood classic character in a horror movie. They added that other genres could be explored with the 1928 version of Mickey Mouse other than going for horror.

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