Insane Mickey Mouse Imitation Eliminates Disney Princess Characters in Screamboat

      If you were curious about how far the creators of Screamboat would push their “Steamboat Willie” horror spoof, the answer is: quite far.

      A new trailer for Screamboat reveals a maniacal mouse, portrayed by David Howard Thornton — known as Art the Clown in the Terrifier movies — stalking “five fearless friends.” The trailer also showcases their names in a playful font that resembles Disney’s style, and Cindi, Bella, Jazzy, Arianna, and Rory may remind you of Cinderella, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Jasmine from Aladdin, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and Rapunzel.

      The film appears to be carefully crafted to raise as many legal red flags as possible while avoiding conflict with Disney’s legal team. It even features an announcer whose voice bears a striking resemblance to the one used for Disney’s releases in the 1990s.

      “A scream is a wish your heart makes!” reads the tagline, parodying the phrase “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” from the 1950 film Cinderella.

      The official description states, “Join us on a New York City ferry ride that transforms into a hilarious nightmare when a mischievous mouse named Steamboat Willie becomes a terrifying reality. As passengers embark, their journey turns deadly when the small menace unleashes murder and chaos. Bursting with major kills, laughs, and a pint-sized threat, Screamboat is a thrilling cinematic experience that reinterprets ‘Steamboat Willie’ like never before!”

      Background on Screamboat

      Screamboat was made possible because “Steamboat Willie,” which introduced Mickey Mouse to the world, entered the public domain this year, along with other works released in 1928. Directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, it was one of the first cartoons to incorporate synchronized sound and was a significant success during its era; it is still available for viewing on Disney+.

      Although “Steamboat Willie” marked the public introduction of Mickey Mouse — and Minnie Mouse — both characters had previously appeared in a test screening of the cartoon “Plane Crazy” just months earlier.

      Screamboat continues the tradition of public domain adaptations, following 2023’s Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, a slasher film inspired by A.A. Milne’s beloved children’s stories. The original Pooh tales became public domain in 2022.

      Screamboat is written and directed by Steven LaMorte, who previously created the horror film The Mean One, inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was released in 2022.

      In addition to Thornton, the new film features a cast that includes Allison Pittel, Amy Schumacher, Jesse Posey, Tyler Posey, Jesse Kove, Jarlath Conroy, Brian “Q” Quinn, Kailey Hyman, and Michael Leavy.

      Executive producers are comprised of Kali Pictures, Sleight of Hand Productions, Reckless Content, and Julien Didon. Iconic Events Releasing will distribute the film, which is set to have a theatrical release on April 2, followed by digital and home video releases.

      Main image: Screamboat. Sleigh of Hand.

      Editor’s Note: Corrections made for typos.