With Mickey Mouse’s first official appearance entering the public domain on January 1st, 2024, a Steamboat Willie horror movie enтιтled Screamboat was quickly announced. The 1928 short created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks depicts Mickey as a steamboat captain who gets into various cartoon antics involving early versions of Disney characters like Pete and Minnie Mouse. The short was notable for a host of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that it was one of the earliest synchronized sound cartoons. On top of that, it introduced Mickey Mouse to the world.

Due to copyright law, Steamboat Willie entered into the public domain on the first day of 2024, meaning it could be used for any purpose as long as the artist doesn’t claim ownership of the original piece. As the 2020s wear on, this has become a more common sight as popular intellectual properties like Winnie the Pooh lapse into the public domain. This has spawned the trend of “mascot horror”, which involves a beloved children’s character being cast as a bloodthirsty villain. Naturally, filmmakers wasted no time in announcing Steamboat Willie horror movies as soon as the character became available.

Screamboat Latest News

The First Image Of The Evil Steamboat Willie Is Revealed

After the first trailer kept the killer mouse mysterious, the latest news comes in the form of an image of Mickey from Screamboat. Played by Art the Clown actor David Howard Thornton, the evil rodent is revealed in all his brutal glory in an image which shows him holding what appears to be a harpoon speckled with blood. The costume is reminiscent of Steamboat Willie’s signature hat and pants, but his twisted visage is horrifying and human-like. Perhaps most intriguing of all, the image reveals his scale, and he appears to be only a few feet tall.

Screamboat Is Confirmed

The Project Was Announced The Day After Steamboat Willie Became Public Domain

Unsurprisingly, it took less than a day for a Steamboat Willie horror movie to be announced, and the first reveal came from a director who is no stranger to the “mascot horror” genre. Director Steven LaMorte (The Mean One) made the official announcement on January 2nd, 2024 that he was developing a new horror film based on the classic Disney short. The project that would eventually be named Screamboat reportedly entered production in spring 2024, and is currently slated for a theatrical release in April 2025.

Screamboat Cast Details

David Howard Thornton Plays Steamboat Willie

As the public domain horror film takes shape throughout 2024, the full cast for Screamboat has already been revealed. Featuring a few recognizable names from horror’s past and present, Screamboat will star David Howard Thornton as the murderous version of Steamboat Willie. No stranger to playing the horror heel, Thornton is perhaps best known for portraying the devious Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise. Acting alongside Thornton in an as-yet-unnamed role is Amy Schumacher, who starred in director Steven LaMorte’s The Mean One.

The ensemble of Screamboat will feature horror alums like Jarlath Conroy (Day of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ) and Charles Edwin Powell (The Exorcist III), as well as less-known actors like Rumi C Jean-Louis (Hightown). Rounding out the cast, Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf), Jesse Kove (Cobra Kai), and Kailey Hyman (Terrifier 3) will play unknown roles as well.

The confirmed cast of Screamboat includes:

Actor	Screamboat Role
David Howard Thornton	Steamboat Willie
Amy Schumacher	Unknown
Kailey Hyman	Unknown
Jarlath Conroy	Unknown
Charles Edwin Powell	Unknown
Rumi C. Jean-Louis	Unknown
Tyler Posey	Unknown
Jesse Kove	Unknown
Jesse Posey	Unknown

Screamboat Story Details

Pᴀssengers Try To Survive The Wrath Of Steamboat Willie

While the full scope of the movie’s story remains unknown, Screamboat will essentially copy the basic structure of the original cartoon short film, but with a few horrific twists. Set on a New York City ferryboat, Screamboat will follow various pᴀssengers as they try to survive the murderous rampage of Steamboat Willie. At this juncture, it’s unclear if the Steamboat Willie in question will be a human wearing a mask, or if David Howard Thornton will be playing a killer anthropomorphic rodent. What is known is that Screamboat will be a blood-soaked affair with plenty of gory special effects.

Screamboat Trailer

Watch The First Teaser Below

With the tongue-in-cheek horror flick set to hit theaters in January 2025, a teaser for Screamboat was dropped in September 2024. The 40-second clip focuses mainly on the human cast of the film, as the mysterious story of Steamboat Willie is recounted in creepy narration. Mickey himself is only seen briefly in the form of a shadow, and a quick look at his feet inside a toilet stall. From what is seen, the legendary cartoon icon might maintain some of his more cartoonish aspects.