A 'Steamboat Willie' Horror Film Is on the Way

Steven LaMorte wasted no time after Mickey Mouse entered the public domain on the first day of the new year. Director of The Grinch horror remake The Mean One, LaMorte recently announced that he has a slasher Steamboat Willie adaptation in the works, dropping off the first trailer for a film that may be dubbed Mickey Mouse’s Trap.

The trailer intermingles clips from the 1928 animated classic amidst a modern-day horror plot. Per the film’s official logline:

It’s Alex’s 21st Birthday, but she’s stuck at the amusement arcade on a late shift so her friends decide to surprise her, but a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse decides to play a game of his own with them which she must survive.

“Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror,” LaMorte said in a press release. “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.”

Production on the film, directed by Jamie Bailey, is slated to begin in spring 2024, Variety notes. What better way to welcome the beloved character into the public domain?

Stream the trailer above, and stay tuned to Hypebeast for more updates on the film.