A new Screamboat photo previews David Howard Thornton’s role as the terrifying Steamboat Willie from the upcoming horror movie based on the original Mickey Mouse cartoon.
The new photo from Variety showcases Thornton — best known for his role as Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise — dressed up as Steamboat Willie and holding a spear menacingly. Thornton’s outfit is designed by Quantum Creation FX, and the character will appear both as a puppet and a costume. In the new photo, Thornton’s character appears small next to the large bench of a New York ferry seen behind him.
The film will follow “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.”
The Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse officially entered the public domain on January 1, 2024. Screamboat was announced the next day, as were several other horror movies that are similarly turning Steamboat Willie into a slasher villain.
What else do we know about Screamboat?
The film is directed by Steven LaMorte, who co-wrote the script with Matthew Garcia-Dunn.
The cast of the movie includes Allison Pittel, Amy Schumacher, Jesse Posey, Jesse Kove, Rumi C. Jean-Louis, Jarlath Conroy, and Charles Edwin Powell. Previously, LaMorte said that the movie will feature some really crazy scenes due to the size of Thornton’s character.
“Because of his size, there are some really crazy kills in this movie that were pretty tough to pull off. There are definitely scenes that I feel confident I’m going to have to have an awkward conversation with my mother about after we’re done.”
“[Screamboat won’t be] a slasher villain in a mask that just takes on the mantle of Steamboat Willie,” LaMorte said. “Our Steamboat Willie is very much the Steamboat Willie that you remember — the songs and the poses, everything.”
Screamboat is expected to be released in early 2025 from DeskPop Entertainment and Iconic Events Releasing.
