David Howard Thornton, renowned for his chilling portrayal of Art the Clown in the “Terrifier” series, is set to bring a new level of terror to the high seas. Thornton will star as Steamboat Willie in the upcoming horror comedy “Screamboat.” This film reimagines Disney’s earliest version of Mickey Mouse, which entered the public domain on January 1st, allowing for creative reinterpretations like this one.
According to the film’s official description, “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.
Joining Thornton in the cast are Allison Pittel (“Stream”), Amy Schumacher (“The Mean One”), Jesse Posey (“Teen Wolf”), Jesse Kove (“Cobra Kai”), Rumi C Jean-Louis (“Hightown”), and horror veterans Jarlath Conroy (George A. Romero’s “Day of the Dead”) and Charles Edwin Powell (“The Exorcist III”).
Director Steven LaMorte expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “I’m thrilled to be working on ‘Screamboat’ with such a killer cast from horror legends to comedy icons. David Howard Thornton is bringing our mischievous and murderous take on Steamboat Willie to life like never before. I can’t wait for audiences to laugh and scream with us onboard ‘Screamboat’!”
Thornton himself is equally enthusiastic, saying, “I’m beyond excited to join this incredible cast and bring Steamboat Willie to life with a horror twist. ‘Screamboat’ is going to be a horrific and hilarious big screen thrill ride that fans won’t want to miss.”
Thornton will also reprise his role as Art the Clown in the upcoming “Terrifier 3,” set to release this fall. LaMorte, who previously directed “The Mean One,” a horror parody of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” will helm “Screamboat.”
Amy Schumacher, Martine Melloul, and LaMorte are producing “Screamboat” alongside Steven Della Salla and Michael Leavy. Special effects will be handled by Christian Beckman’s Quantum Creation FX, Inc., with creature design by concept artist Christian Cordella. “Screamboat” is executive produced by Kali Pictures, Sleight of Hand Productions, Reckless Content, and Julien Didon.
“Screamboat” is set to debut in theaters in 2025, with distribution by Iconic Events Releasing.
David Howard Thornton, the actor best known for his role as Art the Clown in the “Terrifier” films, will step into the shoes of Mickey Mouse in the forthcoming public domain horror movie “Screamboat.” From the production teams behind “Terrifier 2” and “The Mean One,” “Screamboat” will be directed by Steven LaMorte and stars Thornton as a horror-themed sendup of Mickey’s role in “Steamboat Willie,” the first-ever animated short to feature the famous mouse.
Blending horror elements with concepts made for children to create twisted, often hilarious results is nothing new. The subgenre has taken it up a notch following the release of “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey.” The microbudget slasher defied poor reviews to make over $5 million and spawn a sequel that earned significantly more positive feedback. The producers of that film are planning a cinematic universe featuring horror takes on characters like Pinocchio and Bambi.
LaMorte said in a statement, “I’m thrilled to be working on ‘Screamboat’ with such a killer cast from horror legends to comedy icons. David Howard Thornton is bringing our mischievous and murderous take on Steamboat Willie to life like never before. I can’t wait for audiences to laugh and scream with us onboard ‘Screamboat’!”
Thornton added, “I’m beyond excited to join this incredible cast and bring Steamboat Willie to life with a horror twist. ‘Screamboat’ is going to be a horrific and hilarious big screen thrill ride that fans won’t want to miss.”
Since entering the public domain, the early version of Mickey Mouse has appeared in a horror video game, a NSFW animated short on Adult Swim, and at least two different movies have been announced. He has also served as an antagonist in Erik Larsen’s “Savage Dragon,” where Mickey is depicted as a serial rapist, inspired by the never-say-no attitude he took to a kiss from Minnie in “Plane Crazy.”
In “Screamboat,” Thornton takes on the lead role as Steamboat Willie. David next appears in “Terrifier 3,” the highly-anticipated sequel to the horror sensation that took the 2022 box office by storm. Joining him are Allison Pittel, Amy Schumacher, Jesse Posey, Jesse Kove, Rumi C Jean-Louis, and horror veterans Jarlath Conroy and Charles Edwin Powell. The horror-comedy will also feature a number of yet-to-be-announced cameo appearances as production continues later this summer.
Amy Schumacher, Martine Melloul, and LaMorte, who previously collaborated on “The Mean One,” are producing alongside Steven Della Salla and Michael Leavy, known for their work on “Terrifier” and “Stream.” The film’s special effects are in the expert hands of Christian Beckman’s Quantum Creation FX, Inc., bringing to life a terrifying creature designed by concept artist Christian Cordella. “Screamboat” is Executive Produced by Kali Pictures, Sleight of Hand Productions, Reckless Content, and Julien Didon.
Per its official synopsis, “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.
“Screamboat” will set sail into theaters in 2025, distributed by Iconic Events Releasing.
