In the words of Taylor Swift, it’s been a long time coming. The public domain is not afraid to wait for Hollywood’s biggest stars to turn over. From Mickey Mouse to Winnie-the-Pooh, a number of Disney legends have joined the public domain in some form or fashion. Now, 2026 is here, and it is ready to bring another fresh nightmare to us all as Goofy’s best boy joins the public domain.
Yes, that is right. Pluto is coming to public domain. The original version of Disney’s favorite pup is going to the dogs, and that is hardly good news.
Pluto’s Public Domain Debut Was Inevitable
For those unaware of Pluto’s humble origins, the character did not begin life the way we know him now. The dog debuted in the 1930s with the shorts The Chain Gang and then The Picnic starring Mickey Mouse. It was there the world met Rover, a dopey and enthusiastic dog who befriended Mickey and Minnie during a day out. Loyal to a fault and oh-so easily distracted, Rover was the prototype for the pup Pluto would become in later years.
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Now of course, Pluto is still protected by the public domain. The character we know today has gone through multiple iterations, but Rover did not exist for long before he was given a makeover. In fact, Pluto was named at Disney in 1931 as part of the company’s desire to capitalize on the former planet’s discovery. As such, it will only be a matter of time until Pluto — by name — is freed into the public domain. But for now, Hollywood will have to entertain itself with Rover.
Pluto Will Get a Cujo-Inspired Horror Movie, Bet On It
rover or pluto in original debutCredit: Walt Disney Studios
After all, we know Hollywood loves nothing more than to re-imagine childhood classics once they hit the public domain. Winnie-the-Pooh has found himself in this situation more than once, after all. The beloved character created by A.A. Milne hit the public domain January 1, 2022. While Disney’s specific take on the character is still protected, the original version of Pooh is up for grabs. This led to new creators taking a stab at the franchise, and we mean that literally. After all, the most famous public domain push on the bear came with Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.
The campy horror movie earned mixed reviews, but in true Hollywood fashion, Winnie-the-Pooh’s slasher stint lives on. A sequel to the film dropped in 2024, and a third Blood and Honey project is in the works. From Steamboat Willie’s Mickey Mouse to Peter Pan, Hollywood has a knack for inverted nostalgic characters into money-hungry horror stars. With Rover now in the public domain, it is only a matter of time before those same creators come knocking. There’s almost certainly a Cujo-inspired flick in the works for Rover, and that focus will only ramp up once Pluto joins the public domain by name.