Six years after his acclaimed social critique Parasite, South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho returns with another exploration of humanity—this time in a more mainstream sci-fi format. Mickey 17 is based on the novel Mickey7 by author Edward Ashton and paints an extremely dark picture of what defines human nature.
The premise of Mickey 17 seems tailor-made for director Bong: Mickey Barnes volunteers as an “Expendable” for a space mission to colonize foreign planets. However, what he didn’t anticipate is that aboard the spaceship Drakkar, this means taking on extremely dangerous tasks with an almost 100% fatality rate. When he dies, he can be recreated as a clone of himself. But then, an accident occurs, and suddenly, his life is truly at risk.
As wild as the plot may sound, Warner Bros.’ marketing department must have been just as perplexed. Bong’s adaptation of the graphic novel Snowpiercer by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette likely served as a cautionary tale. Despite its visually stunning presentation, the otherwise straightforward story proved too complex for mainstream audiences. The dystopian sci-fi film, starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, and Song Kang-ho, remained a niche favorite despite its quality. The delayed release of Mickey 17 was reportedly due to a struggle between Warner Bros. and Bong over the final cut (via Empire)—a battle the filmmaker ultimately won:
“Of course, there are many opinions and discussions during the editing process, but this film is my cut, and I am very happy with it. It was a long process, but it was always smooth and respectful.”
You can watch the promising trailer for Mickey 17 here:
Mickey 17 Is an Epic Sci-Fi Masterpiece and the First Major Film of 2025
By now, even top-tier Hollywood stars are lining up to work with the filmmaker—and who can blame them? With just eight feature films to his name, Bong has created at least four works that will stand the test of time, while the other four are considered hidden cinematic gems. The man has not had a single misfire (!). And according to the first enthusiastic reactions, that seems to be true for Mickey 17 as well.
Director Bong does it again! #Mickey17 is mind blowing, hilarious, and his most epic film to date! Weird, smart, and wonderful, with a stellar dual performance from Robert Pattinson, and brilliant turns from Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo! @wbpictures pic.twitter.com/z13dgiai9a
— The Nerds of Color (@TheNerdsofColor) February 13, 2025
Bong Joon-ho’s #Mickey17 is an absolute riot and Robert Pattinson further proves why he is one of the best, most versatile actors working today.
The first half is tremendous – funny, violent, endearing, and then it settles into something more powerful and timely in classic… pic.twitter.com/5fFPBijhSF
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) February 14, 2025
