The beloved classic cartoon character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is making a horror movie comeback thanks to an upcoming hybrid live-action and animated film titled “Oswald Down the Rabbit Hole”; starring horror film icon Ernie Hudson as Oswald Jebediah Coleman.
Before Mickey Mouse made his iconic debut, Walt Disney’s first breakout cartoon character was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Disney, along with artist Ub Iwerks, created Oswald in 1927 for Universal Pictures as the star of animated short films. With his long ears and peppy personality, the mischievous rabbit quickly became popular.
However, in 1928 when Disney asked for a budget increase for the Oswald series, he was shocked to learn that Universal owned the rights to the character instead of him. Universal Pictures founder Charles Mintz had taken advantage of Disney’s naivety about contracts and lured away most of his animation staff as well.
Losing the rights to his creation motivated Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks to develop a new cartoon character under their full control. In 1928, Mickey Mouse was born and would soon surpass Oswald to become Walt’s most famous cartoon creation. Oswald, forgotten by Universal, faded from the spotlight as the Walt Disney Studios focused on Mickey and the legacy of the mouse was born.
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In 2006, The Walt Disney Company negotiated a deal with now NBC Universal to regain the rights to Oswald. The Lucky Rabbit was welcomed home to Disney and began making cameo appearances alongside Mickey once again. Today both classic characters are beloved icons of animation history.
Now with the original Oswald shorts in the public domain, the beloved rabbit is being revived for a horror adaptation:
When Art and his friends use an enchanted TV to trace his long-lost family history, they become trapped in his great-grandfather’s [Ernie Hudson] nightmare animation studio. Pursued through the dark magical prison by his great-grandfather’s furious cartoon rabbit creation, the group must escape before their souls are taken. This unlucky soul-hungry rabbit is out for blood and there is no honey in sight.
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Ghostbusters star Ernie Hudson has signed on to play Oswald Jebediah Coleman, described as “a brilliant animator who is cast away to a bone-chilling magical prison.” Hudson seems ready for the role, stating: “I am excited to work with everyone on this production. It’s an incredibly creative and smart project.”
Written and directed by Lilton Stewart III, Oswald Down the Rabbit Hole has a modest budget of $4.5 million.
In a statement, Stewart expressed his vision for the film and desire to have horror icon Ernie Hudson bring the vengeful Oswald character to life.
“I had a very specific vision for Oswald’s character and knew I wanted Ernie for this role from the start, as I’ve always admired iconic cinematic legacy. Ernie is going to bring Oswald’s unique and vengeful spirit to life in the best way possible.”
Rather than cheap slasher films, this ingenious hybrid concept and classic cartoon gone bad twist could attract horror fans and animation enthusiasts alike. Its classic cartoon gone bad concept from writer/director Lilton Stewart III makes it a unique entry into the genre unlike the popular but cheap Winnie the Pooh slasher flicks.
Oswald may have lost out to Mickey Mouse decades ago, but his horror movie resurrection ensures this iconic rabbit’s legacy lives on.
Let us know in the comments. What do you think about Ernie Hudson being cast? Are you excited about another public-domain horror, albeit with a more interesting premise?
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More people need to be making things with these public domain characters not just Mickey, Oswald, but Solomon Kane, Zorro, Felix The Cat, Tarzan, John Carter, Black Bat, Black Terror, Green Lamia, Fury, and so many others. We should push for these laws to be reverted then everything that should be in public domain would be in the public domain as it should have been like Superman, Batman, Popeye, Betty Boop, The Shadow, Conan, Doc Savage, Captain Marvel, and so many others because then the 30’s, 40’s, and early 50’s would be public domain before the laws changed.