The realm of public domain horror has already answered the question “What might a killer Winnie-the-Pooh look like?”—with similar explorations of the dark sides of Popeye, Pinocchio, Tinker Bell, and other traditionally kid-friendly characters following suit. Perhaps the most anticipated reimagining is Disney icon Mickey Mouse, whose visage came into the public domain when Steamboat Willie did in 2024—and now there’s a first look at his ghastly appearance in the upcoming Screamboat.
Variety got the scoop on Screamboat‘s first image depicting David Howard Thornton—best-known as Art the Clown in the Terrifier series, one of the most exciting and memorable horror villains to come along in years, thanks in no small part to Thornton’s wonderfully freakish performance. Will he bring the same flair to his twisted Mickey Mouse? His hat is certainly 1,000 times larger than the tiny chapeau Art the Clown favors…
EXCLUSIVE: Art the Clown actor David Howard Thornton transforms into a killer mouse in the first look at the Steamboat Willie horror movie “Screamboat.”
The film’s theatrical release is now being moved from late January to April.
— Variety
According to Variety, “Screamboat follows a group of New Yorkers on a late-night ferry ride that turns deadly when a mischievous mouse begins a rampage, targeting unsuspecting passengers. The unlikely crew must band together to thwart the murderous menace before their relaxing commute turns into a nightmare.”
Speaking to the trade, writer-director Steven LaMorte praised Thornton’s performance and the effects by Quantum Creation FX, and said, “Screamboat is my way of paying homage to Disney while putting a sinister, yet comedic twist on the classic.”
LaMorte also made 2022’s Grinch horror parody The Mean One; Screamboat‘s script is co-written by Matthew Garcia-Dunn. The cast also features Teen Wolf‘s Tyler Posey, Cobra Kai‘s Jesse Kove, and Stream‘s Allison Pittel. Screamboat had originally planned on a January 31 release; when io9 reached out earlier this month to distributors to confirm or update, we did not hear back. However, Variety’s report says that the film has indeed shifted to April, with no precise date given.
