The popular children’s book character Winnie the Pooh entered the public domain as early as 2023. This means that the figure is no longer protected by copyright and is therefore in the public domain. From now on it can be used and changed freely. A circumstance that director Rhys Frake-Waterfield immediately took advantage of and released ‘Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey’, a poor but thoroughly successful low-budget shocker in which the otherwise cuddly bear goes hunting for people together with his friend Piglet. .
The next figure will be released in 2024 and he will represent Disney like no other: Mickey Mouse. Although only in the version that appears in the 1928 cartoon classic ‘Steamboat Willie’, this cartoon is still absolutely iconic and the loss of copyright is a development that will certainly cause a headache for the mouse studio, especially as they are otherwise very meticulous. is paid for the use and representation of the iconic characters.
And of course, “Mickey’s Mouse Trap,” the first horror film to put the Disney mascot in a slasher setting, has already been announced. But it won’t stay that way, because… Producer of “Terrifier 2”. Steven Della Salla plans in collaboration with the low-budget management expert Steven La Morte (“The Mean One”) another shocker with the iconic mouse, The cartoon “Steamboat Willie” is intended as a template for the bloody fun.
Bow to the original
Filming for the Mickey Mouse horror film inspired by ‘Steamboat Willie’ is scheduled to begin in spring 2024. The content is said to be about a sadistic mouse who torments a group of unsuspecting passengers who really just want a safe crossing. In any case, the bloodthirsty mouse cannot be called Mickey, which should calm those responsible at Disney to some extent – director Steven LaMorte has now confirmed this to him .
For the low-budget filmmaker, his horror interpretation of the animated film should be seen as much more than a tribute to the original:
“’Steamboat Willie’ has brought joy to generations of people, but behind that cheerful facade lies the potential for pure, unchecked terror. This is a project I’ve been dreaming about and I can’t wait to unleash this twisted version of this beloved character into the world. … [Dieses Projekt und ‚The Mean One‘] comes from our love for these characters. Filmmakers – we’re all kids in a sandbox. We love taking them and playing with them in different ways. Our goal is not to ruin these characters or make a quick buck, but to love them, honor them and show them in a new light.”
It is currently unknown when we can expect the horror film ‘Steamboat Willie’ and how it will be released in Germany.