"Mickey 17" is a science fiction film based on the novel by Edward Ashton, directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson, who plays an expendable worker on an icy planet who dies several times, regenerating with his memories intact. The film follows the multiple iterations of the main character as he faces different forms of death. This unique production is a change of pace for Bong Joon-ho, known for "Parasite", and is eagerly awaited. Pattinson describes the script as funny and bizarre, and the film is scheduled for release on January 31, 2025.
Summary
Mickey 17, based on the novel, follows an expendable worker on an icy planet who dies several times but regenerates. Director Bong Joon-ho downplays science fiction in favor of a human story with a cast that includes Robert Pattinson. Pattinson's performance as multiple versions of the title character in Mickey 17 adds depth to the character, due for release on January 31, 2025.
Images from Mickey 17 reveal more about Bong Joon-ho's mysterious sci-fi film starring Robert Pattinson. Director Parasite's new film is based on Edward Ashton's book Mickey7, which follows an expendable employee sent on an expedition to colonize the ice planet Niflheim, and after each iteration of Mickey dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. As well as Pattinson as the eponymous character, the cast also includes Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo.
Now, at CinemaCon 2024, where Screen Rant was present, Warner Bros. has premiered new images from Mickey 17. The footage begins with a spaceship in space and a planet in the background. Mickey's hand is cut off while he is on a spacewalk. He is in an MRI-like tube and is told that they are taking readings of his memories and his body to make him "expendable" and help recreate his body later. He dies in a few different ways, including being killed by a bear. Once, Mickey wakes up and sees a copy of himself and screams, and one of them tries to kill the other.
Related Robert Pattinson's next movie could redeem his most underrated sci-fi role Robert Pattinson will star in Bong Joon-ho's next sci-fi movie, Mickey 17 - and the role could redeem the actor's most underrated sci-fi role.
Mickey 17 is a unique venture for Bong Joon-Ho
Mickey 17 is highly anticipated as director Bong Joon-ho's follow-up to Parasite, which won Best Picture in 2020. Mickey 17, a science fiction film, should be a drastic change of pace from Parasite, a black comedy thriller. His previous movie was also an original story, while Mickey 17 is based on the book Mickey7. Explaining the reason for the change of title, Bong says: "I killed him 10 more times". The director also played down its sci-fi elements, saying: "It's the story of a simple man who ends up saving the world. It's hard to say science fiction, it's a human story."
The filming of Mickey 17 presents a monotonous existence for the main character. He is sent on missions to an icy, snowy planet that resembles Hoth, commenting, "Oh, that again?" and much of the footage is devoted to showing the different ways he dies. At one point, Mickey is in prison with Steven Yeun's character, Berto, who says: "Let's do rock, paper, scissors and shoot the loser". Mickey is regenerated in an MRI-style tube and although the CinemaCon images are not released to the public, this device was revealed in a short trailer for Mickey 17 released in December 2022.
Cast member
Character
Robert Pattinson
Mickey Barnes
Steven Yeun
Berto
Naomi Ackie
Nasha Adjaya
Toni Collette
Gwen Johansen
Marcos Ruffalo
Hieronymous Marshall
Thomas Turgoose
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By playing multiple versions of one person, Mickey 17 is also positioning itself as a highly anticipated Robert Pattinson performance. The actor imbues each iteration with different characteristics, including one who is satisfied with his purpose and another who is more of an evil twin. Pattinson says he signed on to the project because Bong's script was "one of the funniest and most bizarre science fiction scripts (he) has ever read in (his) life". Although the footage reveals a lot about the sci-fi movie, it only seems to scratch the surface of what's in store for Mickey 17.
Mickey 17 will be released in theaters on January 31, 2025.