Media Entertainment & Art Community

The expiration of Disney’s copyright on the earliest versions of Mickey Mouse in the US has given rise to a new genre – Mickey Mouse horror. Released on New Year’s Day, a trailer for the horror comedy thriller, “Mickey’s Mouse Trap,” showcases a masked killer donned in a Mickey Mouse costume terrorizing unsuspecting victims at an amusement arcade. Simon Phillips, the film’s producer, emphasized the desire to create something radically different from the traditional family-friendly image of Mickey Mouse. “If you put Mickey into a family movie, you don’t cover new ground,” he explained. “In order to flip the coin, you have to come up with something that’s the polar opposite of what already exists.” Accompanying the horror film is a video game titled “Infestation 88,” developed by Nightmare Forge Games. The survival horror game features the 1928 version of Mickey Mouse and centers around an outbreak of vermin turning into a more sinister force. This creative explosion follows the expiration of copyright for the 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie,” marking the entry of early non-speaking versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse into the public domain. The move allows artists, writers, and filmmakers to freely rework and use these iconic characters without seeking permission or incurring costs. While creatives have eagerly embraced this newfound freedom, Disney still retains trademark rights over Mickey as a brand identifier and corporate mascot. Modern versions of Mickey are also protected by copyright. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a childhood character has undergone a horror transformation as Winnie the Pooh, upon entering the public domain, was featured in the R-rated horror film “Blood and Honey” last year.

Disney and Reliance Industries have inked a non-binding term sheet, paving the way for a mega-merger of their Indian operations. The collaboration, once finalized, would birth one of India’s largest entertainment conglomerates. The deal outlines that Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance group will stake claim to 51% ownership of the merged entity, utilizing a combination of shares and cash. Disney, on the other hand, will retain the remaining 49% of shares. The agreement was reached during a meeting in London last week, where Disney’s representative, Kevin Mayer, and Reliance’s advisor, Manoj Modi, finalized the non-binding term sheet after months of collaborative efforts. The merger is on track for completion by February, though Reliance aims to expedite the process, targeting late January for the finalization. Disney’s pursuit of a strengthened position in India aligns with its broader strategy. Facing challenges such as job cuts and investor pressure, Disney aims to fortify its presence in the Indian market and improve its financial performance. The integration of Hotstar, acquired as part of the 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets, played a pivotal role. Disney+ Hotstar, a significant global streaming service for Disney, faced setbacks after losing the Indian Premier League Cricket rights to JioCinema in a $2.9 billion deal last year. Disney executives admitted to underestimating the reluctance of Indian consumers to shift from free to premium plans. Despite the setback, the impending merger with Reliance positions Disney strategically, leveraging the strengths of both entities to create a media and entertainment powerhouse. This development unfolds against the backdrop of the pending $10 billion merger between Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Sony Group Corp.’s local unit, a proposal that, after two years, remains unresolved and has the potential to become the largest media amalgamation in India.