Steven LaMorte's upcoming twisted reimagining of Disney’s Steamboat Willie (which recently entered the public domain) is making waves — but not without some turbulence.
Originally set to hit theaters in January, Screamboat has now been delayed to sometime in April. While delays can be disappointing, the good news is that the project is still full steam ahead, as evidenced by our first look at the titular Screamboat Willie himself.
The infamous mouse is played by none other than David Howard Thornton, the man behind Art the Clown in Terrifier. But here’s the twist — Willie is mouse-sized.
Thornton’s portrayal of this pint-sized terror has already sparked hilarious reactions online, with fans and skeptics alike weighing in on the over-the-top design.
Also of note is the difference between the poster’s artwork and the design of the character himself. It’s akin to the disparity between the poster for Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, and the shoulder-padded, generic-masked slasher we saw on screen.
This isn’t Thornton’s first collaboration with Screamboat’s director, as the duo previously worked together on The Mean One (2022). If you’ve been following our podcast, you know The Mean One was, unfortunately, one of the worst movies we’ve covered in nearly 400 episodes.
The Mean One suffered from fatal flaws in its technical execution, a mismanaged, under-utilized Grinch, and dull characters that gave you nothing to root for.
In that episode, I described the film as having been such a sour experience, it turned a shining star — Thornton — into a diamond horrifically obscured in the rough.
That said, Screamboat looks more promising, at least by the trailer. With its killer rat antagonist, it’s bringing some serious New York energy — think more Jason Takes Manhattan than The Mean One. As an unapologetic slasher enthusiast, I’m cautiously optimistic and ready to see what this mouse-sized menace has in store.
Stay tuned, and let’s hope Screamboat sets sail with fair winds and following seas into slasher glory this April.
Want to dive deeper into what Screamboat might have in store? Get ready by checking out our episode covering The Mean One! We break down everything from David Howard Thornton’s performance to the film’s campy chaos — and what worked (or didn’t) when this creative team last hit the horror scene. Listen now, and let us know if Screamboat is steering in the right direction!
