Following in the footsteps of Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey, Mickey’s Mouse Trap is taking full advantage of a famous character being in the public domain now.
Well, it was bound to happen. With Mickey Mouse entering the public domain on 1 January, someone was going to make the iconic mouse the star of a horror film.
That someone is Jamie Bailey. Much like last year’s Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey, Mickey’s Mouse Trap imagines the lovable mouse as a cold-blooded killer.
Take a look at the very first trailer for Mickey’s Mouse Trap.
The trailer was posted online at one minute past midnight, as soon as the character was fair game. Now, to be clear, it’s only the black-and-white, Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse that is in the public domain and free to use. Cleverly, the trailer for Mickey’s Mouse Trap splices footage from the famous black-and-white cartoon into the trailer itself.
The trailer also came with a strong disclaimer: “DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT NOT A DISNEY FILM OR PRODUCTION. IT IS NOT TO AFFILIATED OR ENDORSED BY DISNEY IN ANY WAY. This film makes use of Public domain Steam Boat Willie Mickey Mouse only. Steamboat Willie’s Mickey Mouse entered public domain on January 1st 2024.”
Here’s the official synopsis for the Disney-inspired horror comedy: “It’s Alex’s 21st birthday, but she’s stuck at the amusement arcade on a late shift so her friends decide to surprise her, but a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse decides to play a game of his own with them which she must survive.”
Most of the action seems to take place at a Chuck E. Cheese type restaurant or arcade, not unlike last year’s smash hit horror film Five Nights At Freddy’s.
Bailey is not only directing, but also acted as the film’s cinematographer and editor, while the script was penned by Simon Phillips. Bailey said: “We just wanted to have fun with it all. I mean it’s Steamboat Willie‘s Mickey Mouse murdering people. It’s ridiculous. We ran with it and had fun doing it and I think it shows.”
The film’s cast includes Sophie McIntosh, Callum Sywyk, Allegra Nocita, Ben Harris, Damir Kovic, Mackenzie Mills, Nick Biskupek and writer Simon Phillips, pulling double duty here.
The film doesn’t have a UK release date quite just yet. The Hollywood Reporter reports that the producers are aiming for a March release but it’s unclear whether they have outside distributors involved. IMDB only states MM Trap as a worldwide distributor.
