If you're the creative type and you're struggling to come up with your next idea, fear not: some major works, including the original version of Mickey Mouse, enter the public domain on January 1 in the United States.
And if, on the other hand, you prefer your Disney characters to be cute, cuddly, and never change, well... You may want to stop reading.
By 2024, thousands of copyrighted works published in 1928 will enter the public domain, after their 95-year term expires.
This means that those characters and stories can be remade—on printed pages, on stage, or on screen—without permission. (I finally get to do that Peter Pan musical where a middle-aged Peter laments unexplained back pains at the end of the act.)
"It's important for the preservation of our cultural record, for meaningful access to older works to inspire future creativity," said Jennifer Jenkins, director of the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke Law School.
The "crème de la crème" of this year's public domain class are Mickey Mouse and, of course, Minnie, or at least the black-and-white versions of our favorite screeching rodents that appeared in "Steamboat Willie."
Disney is notorious for its litigation and these copyrights only cover the original versions of the character.
The New York Times reached out to a few writers, producers and directors to give you an idea of what might be unleashed in this strange new world.
Wilhelm II and Tigger too?
Tigger will also be released on January 1 and could soon be reunited with Winnie the Pooh in the reborn character's next movie. Yes, you read that right. In a sneak peek at what might be waiting for other 95-year-old icons, the silly old bear turned into a monster with a sledgehammer in "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey." The sequel is scheduled for February.
Many Disney stories can now be used royalty-free.
"The original movie 'All Silence on the Western Front' was fine, but the horror of modern warfare will be much better illustrated with a crossover remake in which Mickey and Tigger trick the Kaiser into getting stuck in a mop bucket," said Zhubin Parang, co-executive producer of "The Daily Show."
"All Quiet on the Western Front," at least the original German version of the novel, is also entering the public domain, though later translations are not... still.
Peter Pan, Orlando and many more
Then there's the stage version of J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan"; or the Boy Who Didn't Want to Grow Up," D.H. Lawrence's novel, "Lady Chatterley's Lover," Virginia Woolf's "Orlando: A Biography," Wanda Gág's picture book, "Millions of Cats," and many more. (For a full list, see here.)
"It really bothers me to see that we're probably going to get more Peter Pan material now," said Josh Lieb, a comedy writer and producer. "Nobody likes Peter Pan. In fact, I think I speak for all of humanity when I say we hate Peter Pan and we hate the people who make movies about him."
Not everyone hates Peter Pan; I'm sorry, Josh. Bob Greenblatt, producer of the Broadway-bound musical "Smash," asked for a new stage adaptation with Daniel Radcliffe as Peter, Lindsay Mendez as Wendy and Jonathan Groff as Captain Hook.
Actor Nik Dodani also had an idea for the movie Peter Pan.
"When Wendy meets Peter, a charismatic and seemingly ageless young man, she is dragged into a journey of nightmare and obsession, revealing the sinister truth behind her eternal youth," Dodani said. (We failed to publish the sinister truth. You'll have to wait to see the movie.)
What about music?
Musical compositions, such as the original version of "Mack the Knife," which was written in German for an opera by Bertolt Brecht called "The Three Penny Opera," will also be released, and musical recordings, such as Luis Armstrong's "Dippermouth Blues," will also be released on Jan. 1.
Mickey and Pluto, iconic Disney characters.
"I often fantasize about the golden age of sampling, when you could seemingly create the greatest riffs of all time with impunity. I'm looking at you, 'Can I kick it? '" said Ryan Miller, founding member of the band Guster, referring to the A Tribe Called Quest song.
January 1, also known as Emancipation Day, is now an annual ritual for digging mines with a minimum of guilt. I mean, who doesn't need a new twist on 'Yes! Don't we have bananas? Don't answer that." (The song "Yes! We Have No Bananas" by Billy Jones, is also available from the first day of 2024).
I still don't have any idea.
Not to worry. It's in the public domain! Freedom! They can steal! Gordon Greenberg, who is directing a Broadway musical inspired by Huey Lewis this spring, said this was an opportunity to "reimagine some classics from new points of view."
Playwright Lindsey Ferrentino came up with a combination of titles.
"Maybe a 'Threepenny Opera' production with Mackie Messer's character replayed as Mickey Mouse. Very Brechtian," Ferrentino said. "But don't ask me to write it."
The gripping "Lady Chatterley's Lover" aroused a lot of interest. Neil Meron, producer of the Broadway musical "Some Like It Hot," suggested an "immersive, gender-fluid" musical adaptation with a score by Sam Smith.
Karen Chee, writer of "Late Night With Seth Meyers," hosted "Lady Chatterley's Millions of Cats." Ah, but let's develop this! Chee added, "A lonely wife who forgoes sexy moments to adopt millions of cats."
Walt Disney and his drawings.
From Bob Gale, co-writer of the film and musical version of "Back to the Future": "Is Mickey Lady Chatterley's new lover or is he just a voyeur?"
E.M. Tran, a novelist, was intrigued by the musical "Millions of Cats."
"Just dozens, or millions, of puppet cats on stage with an elderly couple singing and dancing," Tran said. Kristoffer Diaz, the playwright, agreed, saying that the musical "writes itself."
Comedian Gabby Bryan demanded an update to the recording of "The Charleston," but with Mark Ronson testing James P. Johnson's version.
"He's done disco, he's done dance, he's done blues, he's done country, he's done Ken," Bryan said, referring to Ronson. "So I challenge you to this Mark, if that's your real name."
And if that's still not enough to get started, just wait. Over the next decade, freedom awaits all these characters, such as Popeye, Pluto, Donald Duck, King Kong (the original film version), Superman, Daffy Duck, James Bond, Batman, Captain Marvel.
Let's get to work, people. And remember, "Freedom is just another word for nothing to lose."*
*The lyrics of this song are still protected by copyright until 2064.
Source: The New York Times