Art the Clown actor David Howard Thornton terrifies as Mickey Mouse in a first image from the Steamboat Willie horror movie, Screamboat. The upcoming Screamboat movie is a horror slasher about the public domain version of Disney’s famous mascot, following a group of people from New York on a ferry ride that soon becomes the hunting ground of a killer mouse. The movie is written and directed by Steven LaMorte, also known for his How the Grinch Stole Christmas! horror movie The Mean One, which was released in 2022.

Now, Variety has shared a first-look image of Thornton, best known for his role as Art the Clown in Terrifier, as Screamboat‘s evil, killer mouse. The image shows him donned in a silver Mickey Mouse outfit, echoing the black-and-white Steamboat Willie short, while brandishing a bloodied harpoon. This image was accompanied by the announcement that the public domain horror movie is getting pushed back from a January 24, 2025 release date to April 2025. Check out the new image below:

What Screamboat’s New Image Says About The Steamboat Willie Horror Movie

The Slasher Has Some Familiar Talent Behind It

Thornton’s public domain Mickey Mouse is accompanied by various actors in major roles, portraying pᴀssengers of the ferry who will be terrorized by the evil rodent. This includes Tyler Posey, Kailey Hyman, Allison Pittel, Amy Schumacher, Jesse Posey, Rumi C. Jean-Louis, Jesse Kove, Jarlath Conroy, and Charles Edwin Powell. Brian Quinn and Joe DeRossa are also expected to have cameo appearances as well. Quantum Creation is managing the film’s practical effects that bring the horror rendition of the mouse to life, which is heavily inspired by his original rendition.

This isn’t the first Steamboat Willie horror movie to come after the character’s entry into the public domain either, with The Mouse Trap having been released on August 6, 2024. While that movie received negative reviews, the inclusion of Thornton in Screamboat indicates there could be some scares akin to his role in the Terrifier movies. While it’s unclear if LaMorte’s newest movie will fare better than The Mean One, which sits at a 23% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, its release date pushback could be a good sign for the film taking time to amp up the horror.

Our Take On Thornton’s Mickey Mouse In Screamboat

His Appearance Will Help Elevate The Slasher

Thornton’s costume in Screamboat is a perfect reflection of the costumes he’s worn as slasher villains like Art in the past, transforming into otherworldly characters to carry out despicable acts. His terrifying reimagining of a classic childhood character means he might be able to help elevate the slasher movie with his presence, as he becomes a sadistic version of Mickey Mouse. With the movie delayed by a few months, however, it will be a bit more time until his version of the character finally arrives on the big screen.

Source: Variety