Horror movies based on beloved characters entering the public domain have been all the rage since the debut of 2022’s “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.” Next year, Popeye the Sailor Man, who first appeared in 1929, will enter the public domain here in the U.S. and will quickly get the horror movie treatment with the arrival of “Popeye the Slayer Man” in early 2025.
The new horror film explores an alternate backstory for the legendary sailor. It follows a group of friends who sneak into an abandoned spinach canning factory to film a documentary on the legend of the “Sailor Man,” who is said to haunt the factory and local docks.
“Popeye the Slayer Man” stars Sean Michael Conway, Elena Juliano, Mabel Thomas, Marie-Louise Boisnier, Jeff Thomas, Steven McCormack, Angela Relucio, and Sarah Nicklin. Jason Stephens plays the title role.
“We can’t wait for audiences to get a load of this gory and scary version of Popeye,” says producer Jeff Miller. “We went old-school and focused on using real practical effects, and not relying on CG for the gore. We’re talking with very enthusiastic and interested buyers now. ”
“Popeye the Slayer Man” is directed by Robert Michael Ryan (“Ouija Witch”) from a a screenplay by John Doolan (“Remains”). Jeff Miller (“The Toybox”), and Cuyle Carvin (“Ouija Witch”). Ryan also contributed to the story.
The movie is a co-production between Salem House Films, Millman Productions, Ron Lee Productions, and Otsego Media. Alexander Tucker, Nathan Todaro, and Alysa Blasetti produce, along with Miller, Carvin, and Ryan.
