Steven LaMorte Set to Direct a Terrifying Movie Based on STEAMBOAT WILLIE Cartoon

Steamboat Willie to Become a Horror Movie Character

Disney‘s copyright to “Steamboat Willie” has expired so director Steven LaMorte is capitalizing on that fact by directing a horror film to feature a variation on the child favorite character, Mickey Mouse.

When “Steamboat Willie” from the late 1920’s entered the public domain Monday, scary results ensued for Walt Disney fans. Whereas Disney still holds rights to Mickey and Minne Mouse, the earlier renditions of their characters are more or less up for grabs which means we could get another terrible horror movie in filmmaker Steven LaMorte’s tinkering of the material which he plans on turning into a terrifying, comedic scarefest. Remember the box-office bomb, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, from last year? It is not good at all. It’s still nevertheless very memorable as one of the very worst movies of 2023 as it exploited the characters of Winnie the Pooh and his friends for cheap thrills. Like Steamboat Willie, Pooh Bear and his friends also sadly recently entered the public domain.

In LaMorte’s horror picture which he plans on releasing, a vicious Mouse inspired by Steamboat Willie will horrify and do unspeakable things to ferry riders. La Morte pretty much believes this is all in good fun and respectful to the original characters but just last year, a Florida teacher made kids scared and uncomfortable when he showed Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey in a school. This is no laughing matter for our impressionable children who probably rely on Mickey Mouse as a source of hope and inspiration similar to the way they view the heroic Pooh Bear who was exploited in last year’s belly flop.

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey crashed and burned at the domestic box-office with terrible numbers. It made a pathetic $1 million domestically and another $3 million overseas leaving people to wonder what a Mickey Mouse-inspired horrorfest will do to successfully meet the demands of the movie-going public. Not very much.

Still, LaMorte is entitled to make his movie as this is a free country. He will be working with a legal team to ensure his vision is separated from those visions of the Walt Disney Company regarding their particular Mickey Mouse characters. LaMorte previously directed the flop, The Mean One, which was a rip-off of “The Grinch.” It barely cracked $600, 000 at the domestic box-office.

There is another potential box-office flop in the works called The Mouse Trap which is also trying to exploit the beloved character of Mickey Mouse for profitable gain. Expect that one to do $1 million or less in its opening weekend before it falls right off the charts in a matter of 10 days or so. Unless, you think evil Mickey Mouse cartoons are a good idea? Thoughts?

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