Disney plans to reintroduce Mickey in EPIC MICKEY, a videogame set to release late next year, VARIETY reports.

The game will attempt to revive several of Mickey's personality traits that have dulled since his introduction in the late 1920s. Disney has been protective of Mickey and mostly avoids casting the character in major titles.

"He's an image, and he's an icon, but he's not a character anymore," said Warren Spector, VP and creative director of Junction Point Studios, the Disney division making the game.

"I want to remind Mickey that he's a hero -- and to be a hero, we need to give him purpose. We need to throw him up against problems worthy of a hero -- not just trying to give Pluto a bath," Spector told VARIETY. "I want him to be funny. I want him to struggle. I want to 'age him up' a little." But Spector added that the game will enable players to ultimately decide "what makes Mickey cool."