Mickey Mouse horror films in the works as Disney copyright expires – Mickey’s Mouse Trap follows path of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey

Steamboat Willie, the first Disney film to feature Mickey Mouse, entered the public domain under US law on Monday, 95 years on from its initial release

Mickey’s Mouse Trap will feature a killer dressed as Mickey stalking a group of friends while another film sees a sadistic Mickey tormenting ferry passengers

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An actor dressed as Mickey Mouse greets visitors at the entrance to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Photo: AP

Published: 4:31am, 3 Jan 2024Updated: 5:31am, 3 Jan 2024

Barely 24 hours after Disney’s initial copyright on Mickey Mouse expired, two new indie horror films starring the beloved character have been announced.

Steamboat Willie, the first Disney film to feature Mickey, entered the public domain under US law on Monday, 95 years on from its initial release.

That means anyone is now free to copy, share, reuse and adapt the primitive, early versions of the characters that appear within the film, including Mickey and his girlfriend Minnie.

Despite warnings from Disney that it would seek to safeguard its most iconic character, opportunistic filmmakers had been expected to quickly announce their own unofficial remakes and adaptations – and they did not disappoint.

A still from Mickey’s Mouse Trap, which joins 2023’s Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey in a growing trend of horror movies based on characters that have entered the public domain. Photo: Into Frame Productions

Mickey’s Mouse Trap will feature a masked killer dressed as Mickey stalking a group of young friends through an amusement arcade, while another untitled horror-comedy sees a sadistic mouse tormenting unsuspecting ferry passengers.