The film’s production comes after the short was recently added to the public domain, and is one of multiple projects that were quickly put into works to take advantage of the situation. This stage was set by the success of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, which similarly put a horror spin on beloved characters who’ve been traditionally family-friendly.The official synopsis for the new film reads, “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.”

Steven LaMorte is directing Screamboat. Other cast members include Allison Pittel (Stream), Amy Schumacher (The Mean One), Jesse Posey (Teen Wolf), Jesse Kove (Cobra Kai), and Rumi C Jean-Louis (Hightown). Jarlath Conroy (Day of the Dead) and Charles Edwin Powell (The Exorcist III) are also featured.“I’m beyond excited to join this incredible cast and bring Steamboat Willie to life with a horror twist,” Thornton said about the project in a statement. “Screamboat is going to be a horrific and hilarious big screen thrill ride that fans won’t want to miss.”

LaMorte added, “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!”

The project reunites Thornton and LaMorte after the pair had spoofed another familiar character. LaMorte previously directed The Mean One, a horror parody film that imagined a darker take on How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Of course, Thornton played the 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er version of the Grinch in that film. The actor will also return as Art the Clown in a third installment of the Terrifier movie series that’s now in development, and that followed a special appearance he’d made as the character in the Peacock series Bupkis.