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Every Upcoming Horror Movie Based on Classic Disney Movies
Steamboat Willie entered the public domain in 2024 and, in the wake of that, we got quite a few movies that included his general look (his voice then entered the public domain in 2025, as he did not speak in 1928’s Steamboat Willie but did in 1929’s The Karnival Kid). The list of Mickey-esque slashers includes 2024’s The Mouse Trap as well as 2025’s Screamboat, Mouse of Horrors, and Mouseboat Massacre and it’s a rip-off roster that will only continue to grow. In fact, one of those aforementioned mouse murder-fests is getting a sequel. Not to mention, since Popeye the Sailor Man entered the public domain in 2025, he got a few scarers of his own, just like Mickey and Winnie-the-Pooh before him.
As for 2026, Betty Boop, Nancy Drew, and Disney’s Pluto the dog are also becoming fair game. Will they receive horror movies? Likely so, but nothing is confirmed. The following lovable character turned bloodthirsty killer movies, however, are.
11) Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw
Like with all other entries on this list, Disney’s version of Aladdin is not yet fair game. That won’t happen for another 63 years so don’t hold your breath.
What is fair game is the original incarnation of Aladdin from A Thousand and One Nights, which is well past the date of entering the public domain (it was compiled as a book by the 12th century). That original version of Aladdin and the genie are set to jump on the childhood icons turned horror movie villains train with Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw, which will feature supernatural elements and take place in London. The film is set to be directed by Bradley Stryker, who also plays a role in the film.
10) The Mouse Trap 2: Welcome to the Mickeyverse
The first of the Mickey Mouse horror movies, The Mouse Trap, is pretty far from revered. And yet we’re getting a sequel, tentatively scheduled for August 1, 2026.
There are also rumors surrounding a sequel to Screamboat, which is logical considering that movie has a tag scene hinting at the inclusion of Minnie Mouse, who also became part of the public domain courtesy of Steamboat Willie. The same goes for The Mouse Trap 2: Welcome to the Mickeyverse. Just as there’s someone dressed up as Mickey, there will also be someone equally psychopathic dressed up as Minnie. And, apparently, it’s going to kick off a cinematic universe all its own.
9) Pinocchio: Unstrung
The rest of the entries here are members of the Twisted Childhood Universe, as they’ve announced a slate of films for the next few years whereas any other Disney-esque horror movies will likely be swiftly assembled and just as swiftly announced. Next up for the TCU? Pinocchio: Unstrung (a title that is perhaps a play on Django Unchained?).
The TCU has seen its critical clout rise considerably. The first Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey was widely considered one of the worst, cheapest looking films of 2023. Universe creator Rhys Frake-Waterfield then found himself driven to improve the quality and Blood and Honey 2 found itself with a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes while Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare received a 42% and Bambi: The Reckoning nabbed the franchise’s first “Fresh” rating with 63%. Can Pinocchio continue the upwards trajectory? Time will tell but it certainly comes equipped with a pair of horror legends. Barbarian‘s Richard Brake is cast as Geppetto while A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Robert Englund will play the Cricket (who is far different in the 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio than he ended up being as Disney’s Jiminy Cricket).
8) Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble
Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble is without a doubt the TCU showing reverence for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even the font on its teaser poster is mighty similar to the typeface seen on the various The Avengers posters.
Like 2012’s The Avengers, Poohniverse is the sixth film in the franchise and a culmination of all that came before. It’s even introducing quite a few big names, including Winnie-the-Pooh‘s Rabbit, Sleeping Beauty, and Alice in Wonderland‘s Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat. And, while he’s not a Disney character, it has also been announced that Tintin, the inspiration for 2011’s The Adventures of Tintin, will appear in the movie.
7) Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3
The first Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey was so notoriously awful that it was essentially retconned in the sequel. It became a movie within a movie, and one that characters ripped on.
It makes sense, because everything since the first Blood and Honey has been a noticeable step up in the quality department. One hopes that will continue with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, which will pick up with the title character after Poohniverse and introduce the Heffalumps, Woozles, Kanga, and Roo. Blood and Honey 3 will begin shooting in early 2026 with a debut either in late 2026 or early 2027. And, as the start of “Phase Two,” as it were, Blood and Honey 3 will be to the TCU what Iron Man 3 was to the MCU.
6) Awakening Sleeping Beauty
The second film of the TCU’s “Phase Two,” Awakening Sleeping Beauty was announced in March 2024 and, for now at least, next to nothing is known about its plot. Thus far all we have is its logo, which was revealed at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 alongside Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, Bambi: The Reckoning, Pinocchio: Unstrung, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, and the next entry on our list.
5) Snow White Returns
Snow White is the first character whose Disney version will enter the public domain. However, it won’t be for another seven years. So, it seems likely that The Twisted Childhood Universe’s version of the character will be based on the original 1812 Brothers Grimm story. Even still, if these types of movies are still being produced in 2032, expect a bunch of stuff like “Snow Red” or “Snow White: Blood in the Snow.”
Snow White Returns was announced in May 2024 and does not currently have a release year set. That said, 2027 seems like the year to expect this already somewhat controversial tale to get an even more controversial blood-soaked makeover.
4) Alice & the Mad Hatter
The fourth film of the TCU’s second phase, Alice & the Mad Hatter, will reintroduce audiences to the latter title character after his debut in Poohniverse. This will also, of course, be where we meet Alice. This version of Alice is an escort for an agency titled the White Rabbit.
Alice & the Mad Hatter will be written and directed by Scott Chambers, who helmed Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare and will direct the upcoming Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3. He also starred as Christopher Robin in Blood and Honey 2. Chambers has cited films such as MaXXXine as influences on this particular project.
3) Tigger’s Return
Tigger entered the public domain alongside Mickey in 2024, as his first appearance was in 1928’s The House at Pooh Corner. However, like Winnie-the-Pooh, it wasn’t the Disney version of the character featured in Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, it was the design seen in the aforementioned A. A. Milne book. Just with a lot more teeth and a shirt.
Piglet has been with the TCU from the very beginning. He and Winnie were the killers in the first Blood and Honey. Tigger, however, didn’t pop up until Blood and Honey 2 (along with Owl). And, while Winnie, Tigger, Piglet, and Owl will all be in Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, the existence of Tigger’s Return seems to confirm that he was the Blood and Honey sequel’s standout character.
2) A Mary Poppins Horror Movie
Like Rabbit, Sleeping Beauty, the Mad Hatter, and Cheshire Cat, Mary Poppins will be introduced in Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. In fact, according to franchise co-producer Scott Chambers, she will be one of the film’s three big villains alongside Peter Pan and Mad Hatter.
She will then get her own movie at an unspecified date. If they continue the two per year release model, Poppins will likely get her solo (apparently kidnapping-focused) adventure in 2029, but don’t be surprised if it is released earlier than that.
1) A Sequel to Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare
Again, if following the two per year release schedule, the sequel to Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare will be the first entry of 2030. It will likely be directed by Scott Chambers, who directed Pan’s introduction to the TCU.
Chambers has completed the script for Neverland Nightmare‘s follow-up. He has stated that the plot will reveal Neverland is a real place, whereas it was a drug-fueled hallucination in the first movie.
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