The initial official portrayal of David Howard Thornton, famously recognized as Art the Clown in the Terrifier series, has been unveiled as a gruesome take on Steamboat Willie, Disney’s iconic character. This new project, titled Screamboat, also includes Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey and is directed by Steven LaMorte, who previously worked on The Mean One, the Grinch slasher film. This movie re-imagines the original version of Mickey Mouse’s mascot now in the public domain, setting the story during a late-night ferry ride in New York City where Steamboat Willie turns into a murderer, claiming the lives of the passengers.
Through Variety’s report, we get our first glimpse of actor David Howard Thornton transforming into Steamboat Willie for the upcoming film Screamboat. The distribution company has also adjusted the release date from January 2025 to April 2025, with several special screenings scheduled nationwide before the new premiere. Additionally, Screamboat is set to generate buzz at horror conventions prior to its theater debut. Writer-director LaMorte shared these insights about the film:
I’m thrilled to unveil our playful monster mouse creation to the world! ‘Screamboat’ is a tribute to Disney, but with a darkly funny spin on the traditional. Watching David Howard Thornton breathe life into Steamboat Willie alongside the talented team at Quantum Creation FX has been truly captivating – he’s both hysterical and terrifyingly amusing. I can hardly wait for everyone to encounter Willie and enjoy the pandemonium we’ve concocted!
Starting on January 1, 2024, the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse will be part of the public domain, since Disney no longer holds exclusive rights to this depiction. With many intellectual properties linked to Disney becoming public domain, it’s common for low-budget reinterpretations or imitations to emerge quickly, aiming to capitalize on their popularity. One such film is Screamboat, which was announced the day after Steamboat Willie entered the public domain.
‘Screamboat’ Isn’t the First ‘Steamboat Willie’ Horror Film
Although Screamboat has been in the public domain for less than a year, it is set to become the second film inspired by Steamboat Willie to be a slasher movie. The initial one was Mouse Trap, which premiered on demand on August 6, 2024, and received harsh criticism from critics. Neither Screamboat nor Mouse Trap belong to the horror franchise based on public domain characters linked with Disney called The Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU).
Known colloquially as “The Poohniverse,” this label likely stems from the success of its initial installment, “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey.” The quality of these productions is questionable, but they’ve managed to carve out a niche in the horror genre. The series includes sequels like “Winnie-the-Pooh: Bloody and Honey 2,” “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,” and upcoming titles such as “Bambi: The Reckoning,” “Pinocchio: Unstrung,” and the collaborative film, “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.
The continuous transformation of content typically linked with child’s entertainment into adult-oriented slasher films seems to have grown monotonous, fading faster than the multiverse. However, these Disney live-action remakes and legacy sequels hint at a potential craving for a revival in slasher movies.
In the late ’70s and ’80s, slasher movies ruled the cinematic landscape, with “Scream” (1996) being a notable exception that both dismantled and rejuvenated this genre at the same time. Afterward, during the 2000s remake trend, slashers were largely overshadowed by other horror sub-genres. These included found footage films, ghostly hauntings, and the strange, atmospheric horror that gained popularity following many A24 productions.
The Terrifier series of films has emerged as a fresh horror franchise icon, with Art the Clown, portrayed by David Howard Thornton, becoming the most acclaimed new horror antagonist since Jigsaw from Saw (2004). Given his growing recognition within the horror community and general audiences’ intrigue about a murder-themed Mickey Mouse movie, Screamboat could potentially gain significant popularity.
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2025-01-14 04:32