Renowned filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, celebrated for his groundbreaking work on Parasite, which made history as the first non-English language film to win Best Picture at the Oscars, is back with a new project, Mickey 17. Starring Robert Pattinson (The Batman), Mickey 17 is an adaptation of Edward Ashton’s sci-fi novel Mickey 7. The film, eagerly anticipated by fans of both the director and the star, has been slated for a January 2025 release, following delays caused by industry strikes.
Warner Bros. has announced that the film will debut in IMAX, showcasing the expansive and immersive world Bong Joon-ho has created. The release of the film’s first trailer has sparked considerable excitement, providing audiences with their first glimpse of Pattinson in the lead role as Mickey Barnes, an ‘expendable’ cloned repeatedly for dangerous missions on a distant icy planet called Niflheim.
In the newly released trailer, Pattinson portrays Mickey, who can regenerate every time he dies while retaining most of his memories. This character embarks on perilous journeys as part of a human colonisation effort, facing death and regeneration repeatedly. The intriguing narrative takes a twist when Mickey discovers another version of himself, leading to a compelling exploration of identity and existence.
The star-studded cast supporting Pattinson includes Steven Yeun (Minari) as Berto, Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things) as Hieronymous Marshall, Toni Collette (Hereditary) as Gwen Johansen, and Naomi Ackie (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody) as Nasha Adjaya.
Mickey 17 not only showcases a unique sci-fi story but also continues Bong Joon-ho’s exploration of social themes, similar to those in Parasite. The film delves into issues of socioeconomic inequality and the expendability of individuals within corporate and colonial exploits, paralleling Mickey’s endless cycle of life and death with the disposable nature of the underprivileged in society.
The film stands out as one of the most anticipated films of 2025, promising a mix of thrilling science fiction, profound social commentary, and stellar performances, particularly from Pattinson, whose portrayal of Mickey is already being noted as one of his most significant roles to date. Fans and critics alike are eager to see how Bong Joon-ho’s newest film will resonate with audiences and critique contemporary societal issues through rich visual storytelling.
Mickey 17 opens in cinemas on 31 January 2025.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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