Mickey Mouse stars in horror film as copyright comes to an end. Can you envision this?
Mickey Mouse has adopted a darker, more sinister appearance in place of his cheery one.
The United States' copyright to Steamboat Willie, the 1928 short film that featured early iterations of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, lapsed on New Year's Day at midnight.
This is a big deal since it means that artists can now use and adapt the original versions of these adored characters without having to pay for permission.
Mickey's dark side
Almost immediately, artists seized the opportunity, delivering a shock to fans with a trailer for a horror comedy thriller titled «Mickey's Mouse Trap.» The film, set to release this March, features a masked killer donning a Mickey Mouse costume, turning an innocent amusement arcade into a scene of terror. Producer Simon Phillips emphasized the need for a fresh take, stating, «If you put Mickey into a family movie, you don't cover new ground.» The trailer promises a mix of frights and fun, urging audiences not to take it too seriously.
Not to be outdone, the gaming world also embraced the newfound freedom. Nightmare Forge Games introduced «Infestation 88,» a survival horror game where an outbreak of vermin takes a sinister turn. Leveraging the 1928 version of Mickey, the game's antagonist becomes a blood-splattered, nightmarish figure causing an infestation. The game's spokesperson noted that the public domain status of Steamboat Willie facilitated the inclusion of this iconic character in their narrative.
Disney's copyright journey
This development comes after years of legal battles for Disney to retain copyrights on its original characters. The «Mickey Mouse Protection Act,» a US copyright statute, gives characters 95 years of
