Since entering the public domain last year, there have been quite few attempts to transform Mickey Mouse into a horror icon. First, with the low-budget romp The Mouse Trap. Then with the Slender Man-inspired video game Infestation 88. While there are still several other projects in the works, they may all struggle to top the latest reimagining: Screamboat.
While you can check out our review for the film here, our Editor-In-Chief Dempsey Pillot got the chance to chat with the director and one of the producers too!
In the exclusive interview, the duo broke down how the film came to be. Contrary to what some might believe, they allege that the story existed long before Steamboat Willie entered the public domain!
”We wanted to do something that would be fresh and fun and sort of an updated take on a character that people knew,” director Steven LaMorte said.
“We started with trying to figure out which characters were going to be available. But [that wasn’t] a great way to develop a story. So Amy said, ‘Look. instead of banging your head against the wall on trying to find a character that we can adapt, why don’t you take a story that you’ve always wanted to tell or something you like.’ And I’ve always wanted to make a horror movie on the Staten Island Ferry. And so we started pulling on that thread and I realized, I said, wait a minute…this is a great setting for a horror movie.”
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He tried to figure out a character that would fit into his story, but when the couple heard that Steamboat Willie was going into the public domain, the rest became history.
David Howard Thornton, most known as Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise, stars as this iteration of Steamboat Willie. And despite his status as an up-and-comer, the duo revealed that he did not hesitate to join the project.
“We approached David even before there was a script written,” star and producer Amy Schumacher said. “We knew David was going to play Steamboat Willie because when we were thinking about having a creature that could move and play homage to the real character and bring that physicality and funny silliness to a horror movie. It’s David Howard Thornton.”
She adds “When we were developing the script and then we were developing the look of the character, we had David in mind the whole time.”
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Despite the film being a horror film, the couple said that they still think that there’s plenty for Disney fans to appreciate about it.
“ I think we absolutely put a lot of effort and a lot of love into honoring Disney,” LaMorte said. “We are lovers of Disney, so there are Easter eggs spread throughout the entire movie. Even if you just watch it once, you may not catch.”
“If you are a Disney lover, you’re gonna. Find more Disney references within there that are placed there with love placed there to honor the character, to honor the IP,” Schumacher added.
You can check out the full interview below!
Screamboat is now playing exclusively in theaters!
You can purchase tickets here.
