Copyright law acts as a safeguard for various creative and scientific minds' intellectual properties, but what happens when those ideas enter the nebulous space known as the public domain? They apparently become fodder for horror movies, as seen in recent years. The release ofWinnie the Pooh: Blood and Honeyin 2023 shocked viewers with its bloody retelling of A.A. Milne’s beloved children’s story, and with the recent release of Disney Studio’sSteamboat Willieinto the public domain, creatives are scrambling to make their mark on the classic animated film with their own grotesque reimaginings.
This movement to transition classic tales into thehorror genreisn’t necessarily new. Authors and artists have long been putting their own dark twists on the public domain, but Hollywood has only recently begun following the trend. With that in mind, there are still plenty of beloved characters that have yet to receive the same treatment. Due to their vast potential within the genre or similarities to past public domain horror adaptations, these 10 characters should be the next big stars of the horror genre. Whether as the hero, villain, or Crypt Keeper-esque narrator, these classic characters wholly deserve their chance to forever change the face of the genre.
10Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (1927)
Oswald the Lucky Rabbitmade his animated debut in 1927 as Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks' contribution to Universal Pictures. Over 27 shorts, the whacky, mischievous rabbit showcased Disney’s eye for comedic storytelling, but when Disney left Universal, he was forced to leave his treasured creation behind. This paved the way for Mickey Mouse’s creation, but Oswald was never forgotten.
Disney CEO Bob Iger worked alongside Disney Interactive Studios to reacquire the rights, allowing him to star in theEpic Mickeyvideo games alongside his younger brother, and he has since gone on to feature in a handful of new shorts for Disney Studios.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is a Forgotten Piece of Disney History
Given that Oswald is essentially the inspiration for Mickey Mouse, he holds a special place in animation history. Oswald is Mickey’s big brother in a sense, so the fact that Mickey is receiving his own horror adaptation with theSteamboat Williereimaginings is proof perfect that Oswald deserves the same treatment.
What role he should play is up in the air, especially given his original trickster persona. Nevertheless, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit deserves far more attention than he has received in the last several decades, and a horror adaptation of the character may be just the thing to bring him back into the spotlight.
9Alice (1865)
The star of Lewis Carrol’s seminal fantasy novel,AlicefromAlice’s Adventures in Wonderlandhas been the star of numerous adaptations and reimaginings since her 1865 debut. Disney’s animated and live-action adaptations are two of the more definitive adaptations of the classic, taking liberties with the source material but capturing the wonder and weirdness of Carrol’s novels.
The series follows a young girl named Alice as she stumbles down a rabbit hole or through a mirror into the magical realm of Wonderland, where Alice’s true destiny awaits as she explores the twisted and dangerous corners of this psychedelic landscape.
Alice and Wonderland have Incredible Potential in the Horror Genre
Is there any series more deserving of a horror reimagining than Lewis Carrol’sWonderlandnovels? While meant for children, the bizarre, twisted world he presents is filled with the perfect blend of whimsical and frightening imagery. In the realm of video games,Alice: Madness Returnsfrom director American McGee is the best example of the true terror possible with this character and world, and several authors have delved into the darker aspects of this world. Creepy king Tim Burton even put his name behind Disney’s live-action adaptation, proof enough that the character’s adventures have the potential to be nightmare fuel.
8Peter Pan (1902)
Peter Panmade his debut in five chapters of J.M. Barrie’s 1902 novelThe Little White Birdbefore becoming the star of Barrie’s groundbreaking 1904 stageplay and 1911 novelPeter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.The character has since gone on to become a pop culture icon, with Disney againreshaping the character through their early animated filmmaking. Peter Pan is a young boy who resides in the magical realm of Neverland. While visiting the home of the Darling children in London, Peter is convinced to take them to his home, where they encounter Peter’s troop of Lost Boys and the evil Captain Hook.
There is Plenty of Darkness Hidden Within Peter Pan’s Story
While meant as a child-friendly bedtime story, there is an underlying darkness toPeter Pan. Many authors have focused on this darkness, with artist and author Brom penning the horror-fantasy novelThe Child Thiefusing a single throwaway line from the novel as inspiration.
Peter Pan is typically recast as the villain of these stories, stealing children away to Neverland but never letting them return to their homes, in an extreme twist on his traditional motivations. While Disney’sPeter Panis a classic of children’s animation, there is plenty of basis for a horror movie based on the character, with Neverland acting as the perfect horrific setting.
7Sherlock Holmes (1887)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary giantSherlock Holmesneeds no introduction. Debuting inA Study in Scarletin 1887, the world’s greatest detective’s original 56 short stories and 4 novels have become the archetype for all modern detective fiction, and his place in the public domain has allowed his adventures and investigations to continue into the modern day in literature, television, and movies.
Residing in London’s 221B Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes is a private detective for hire. With his assistant, Dr. John Watson, as well as with the aid of Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, Holmes takes on the cases that leave his contemporaries baffled.
Cosmic Horror Presents a Brand New Challenge for the World’s Greatest Detective
One of the more fascinating modern pairings for Sherlock Holmes is his inclusion in Cosmic Horror. Literature and video games have pitted the great detective against Lovecraft’s most horrific monsters, with Neil Gaiman’sA Study in Emeraldstanding out as one of the best. There is something so compelling about pittingthe hyper-logical geniusagainst these unknowable, maddening threats, and that is a dichotomy that deserves a cinematic adaptation.
There has always been a touch of madness to Holmes, especially in regard to addiction and mental illness in some versions, so this dash of mysticism could add a stunning new layer to the classic character.
6Dorothy Gale (1900)
L. Frank Baum struck gold with the release of his 1900 children’s novelThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz,with the original’s massive popularity resulting in the release of 13 sequels written by Baum and dozens of follow-ups written by other authors. While Dorothy Gale only stars in a handful of these titles, the young girl from Kansas has become the iconic face of the franchise, especially since the release of the hit 1939 live-action adaptation starring Judy Garland.
The story sees young Dorothy whisked away to Oz after a tornado hits her country home, and the only way for her to return is for Dorothy to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West.
Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz Can Inspire As Much Terror as They Have Joy
Much like Wonderland and Neverland, Baum’s Oz is a land of both whimsy and terror in equal doses. Monsters and witches roam the world, and especially in the context of the original film, there is some truly terrifying imagery at play from the very start.
Modern creators tend to pick one of these opposing elements in Oz to place their focus, with some representing the childlike joy while others, such as SYFY Channel’s 2007 miniseriesTin Man,focus on the potential darkness of this twisted realm. All of this is to say that Dorothy’s adventures in Oz have plenty of potential as a horror adventure narrative with the right creative team behind them.
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5Allan Quatermain (1885)
Allan Quatermaindebuted in H. Rider Haggard’s 1885 novelKing Solomon’s Minesand returned in the 1887 sequel,Allan Quatermain.Since then, the character has starred in 12 prequel novels, four short stories, and 12 feature films and television productions. Quatermain is a big game hunter and adventurer who spends his life in the wilds of Africa to escape the toils of the big city.
In the debut novel, Quatermain is hired by aristocrat Sir Henry Curtis to help him track down his brother and King Solomon’s fabled mines. The rest of the novels see Quatermain undertaking various similar adventures throughout the African wilderness.
Quatermain’s Adventures Could Bring Him in Contact With History’s Darkest Artifacts
With the wealth of bizarre artifacts in world history and mythology, the archaeological adventure genre is one ripe for a horror adaptation, and given Quatermain’s important role as the main inspirationfor genre hits likeIndiana JonesandThe Librarian,he would be the perfect hero for this type of genre swap. It would also help bring the character into modern conversation, as many have forgotten this iconic character.
Given Quatermain’s starring role inLeague of Extraordinary Gentlemen,the character has proven himself to be a versatile lead, no matter the genre, but a more horror-centric adventure would be a logical next step for him.
4Don Quixote de La Mancha (1605)
Released in 1605,Don Quixoteis the masterwork of Miguel de Cervantes. It has since become a literary icon, acting asan inspiration for creative works across the centuries. The story follows 50-year-old hidalgo (noble) Alonso Quixano. After years of reading chivalric romances, Quixano loses his mind and believes himself to be a medieval knight. Taking the nameDon Quixote de La Mancha,Quixote sets off on an adventure across the Spanish countryside, besting false monsters and saving damsels-not-truly-in-distress alongside his squire Sancho Panza, all on the hunt for Quixote’s true love, Dulcinea.
Don Quixote’s Hunt Could Be Made a Reality in the Horror Genre
The entire crux ofDon Quixoteis that the monsters aren’t real. Everything is within the lead’s mind as he hunts for glory as a decorated knight. However, what if theywerereal? What if Don Quixote was the only one capable of perceiving these monstrous threats? This type of story would allow filmmakers to still lean into the themes of the original novel while adding a tinge of gory darkness to the plot.
They could even transform the book into a television series, one akin toSupernatural,where Quixote and Sancho Panza travel around Spain (or the world), with each episode focused on the hunt for a different monster.
3Lemuel Gulliver (1726)
Lemuel Gulliveris the protagonist of Jonathan Swift’s hugely popular 1726 satirical novelGulliver’s Travels.A sailor and explorer, Gulliver sets off on four grand adventures over the course of the novel, each taking him to lands around the world filled with mysterious new societies. In the first and most heavily adapted adventure, Gulliver is shipwrecked on Lilliput, the island home of a society of diminutive humans.
On the subsequent three voyages, Gulliver encounters a society of giants, a highly advanced society living on a floating island, and an island of talking horses that have enslaved a group of human-like creatures.
Gulliver’s Worldly Adventures Could Open the Door for Terror and Satire
While most think of Gulliver’s interactions with the Lilliputians when consideringGulliver’s Travels, the character’s adventures are far more wide-ranging. Gulliver visits many bizarre places on his journey, and this provides the perfect template for a horror series. As a satire, Swift’s novel mocks travel memoirs expounding the wonders of exploration.
His novel intentionally pokes fun at this worldview, pointing a finger at the failures of humanity. He also actively points out that there is something to fear in the unknown. A series could explore what lurks beyond our realm of understanding, forcing Gulliver to pay witness to the darkest corners of our vast world.
2Scheherezade (1706)
1001 Nights,sometimes calledArabian Nights,is a collection of folktales from various Middle Eastern countries that were collected and distributed to the West by French translator Antoine Galland in 1706. Many of these stories have become modern classics, but while the stories act as the main focus, the running through-line of the collection is the story of Scheherezade.
Married to the cruel ruler Sharyar, Scheherezade tells her new husband a story every night. Before the tale is finished, though, Scheherezade falls asleep, leaving her husband enraptured until the following night and keeping herself alive for one more day.
Scheherezade Could Become the Next Great Anthology Horror Host
A television series focused on Scheherezade would have all the potential of classic horror anthology series likeTales from the Crypt.Scheherezade could become a new version of the Crypt Keeper, relating to Sharyar (as well as viewers) twisted takes on the originalArabian Nightsstories. It may not be possible for the series to last through 1001 different tales, but the overarching plot of Scheherezade’s attempts at survival could add a thrilling character study to the anthology.
Perhaps Scheherezade isn’t simply trying to pacify her new husband. Perhaps she is attempting to scare him straight. That would give an added weight to the unfolding events.
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1Rosie the Riveter (1942)
Rosie the Riveteris one of the most iconic images in US Culture, becoming a feminist icon in the modern day and inspiring character across literature, comics, film, and video games. However, few know the history behind the character or the posters in which she debuted.
During World War I and II, with so much of the United States workforce sent overseas to war, many companies turned to women to fill the roles once occupied by men. Rosie the Riveter was meant to bring women into the industrial space, presenting a representative to invite them to aid the country during such a turbulent time.
Rosie the Riveter Could Be the Inspiration for the Perfect Horror Cast
To be honest, Rosie the Riveter as a character likely wouldn’t work as the star of a film. Her role in posters did little to actually build a character or personality. With that said, the group she represents, women in industry during the World Wars, would be the perfect stars of a historical horror series. Filmmakers could craft a film focused on this group of capable women, people trained to build and operate heavy machinery, as they are confronted with real or supernatural horrors in the workyard. This could be a step toward better representation of women in the genre, while also giving viewers the period horror they didn’t know they needed.
