Fans of the Terrifier franchise have been left shocked after seeing Art the Clown actor David Howard Thornton in a brand new horror role. This time as a rather twisted Mickey Mouse.
Hardly something you'll find on Disney+ and definitely not for children, the world of horror films has seized its chance after the very first iteration of Mickey Mouse enters the public domain.
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While the character of Mickey is very much owned by the Disney corporation, its first ever outing of the character in 1928's Steamboat Willie is no longer just for Disney purposes only.
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That's because over in the USA, there is a 95 year limit on character creations before they become public domain. That means the black and white incarnation is now fair game for anyone to do with as they please.
Of course, horror Mickey was immediately sprung upon. And by more than one production team, with a trailer released for another Steamboat Willie inspired slasher this month.
One of the Mickey inspired films is Screamboat, starring none other than DHT who has scared audiences for years as the monstrous Art the Clown.
You can check out the teaser trailer below:
A reimagining of the 1928 film created by Walt Disney himself alongside Ub Iwerks, director and writer Steven LaMorte said the movie is a story focused on a late-night ferry ride in New York City where 'commuters and deckhands and all the usual passengers are attacked by a murderous and mischievous mouse'.
Described as 'mean, tiny, and loves getting up to no good', Mickey will be seen in a very different light to the one we see galavanting around Disney theme parks with Minnie.
Set to be released in April 2025 after being delayed from January, a first look at Screamboat has been released this week by production company Sleight of Hand.
The teaser, shared with Variety, shows Thornton as a rather harrowing Mickey Mouse armed with what looks like a bloodied harpoon.
"I’m so excited to share our mischievous monster mouse with the world," LeMorte said.
"Screamboat is my way of paying homage to Disney while putting a sinister, yet comedic twist on the classic.
"Watching David Howard Thornton bring Steamboat Willie to life with the magicians at Quantum Creation FX has been nothing short of amazing — he’s hilarious and murderously entertaining. I can’t wait for audiences to meet Willie and experience the chaos we’ve created."
Fans have been shocked after seeing Thornton's Mickey, though.
"F****** hell just leave beloved characters alone," one person wrote over on X (formerly Twitter).
A second said: "I was looking forward to this but that design just sucks and isn't scary."
And a third wrote: "My interest dropped. This looks nothing like in the logo?"
A fourth added 'LMAO, I will still watch though' and a fifth posted: "Literally not was I expecting."
Screamboat will hit cinemas in April 2025.
Tom Earnshaw