Bong Joon Ho’s films are anything but predictable. From the genre-defying Parasite, which swept the Oscars, to the darkly comedic The Host, his work often blends sharp social commentary with unexpected tones. In his latest film, Mickey 17, the director continues to explore humanity’s absurdities, but this time with a satirical sci-fi twist. Starring Robert Pattinson in multiple roles, Mickey 17 follows Mickey, an ‘expendable’ astronaut on a mission to colonise a distant ice planet called Niflheim. The catch? Mickey is reprinted every time he dies, only to face the chaos of having multiple versions of himself exist at once.
Speaking to Empire, Bong describes the film as “the most human story” he’s ever made — though, as with much of his work, it’s not a particularly flattering depiction of humanity. “Ultimately, the story is about how pathetic humans can be,” Bong explains. “It’s almost like you can smell every human character in the film — their piss stains and their smelly socks.”
The film’s premise centers on Mickey’s journey to help prepare Niflheim for human habitation, a task complicated by the planet’s hostile creatures, known as ‘creepers.’ However, a mishap occurs when Mickey 18 is printed before Mickey 17’s death, resulting in two versions of the same character existing at once. This situation quickly escalates into a potential disaster, especially with Mark Ruffalo playing Marshall, a politician who strongly opposes the idea of expendable humans.
For Bong, Mickey 17 offers a downbeat take on the idea of immortality, upending typical sci-fi tropes. “In most sci-fi films, eternal life is treated as something sublime, spiritual, profound,” he says. “But I was really captivated by the idea that human printing is not respectful at all. You’re literally reproducing humans like an inkjet printer.” As Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 run wild, Bong imagines what might happen when such a process goes wrong — it’s a metaphor for the absurdity of human attempts to outsmart death.
Mickey 17 hits cinemas on 18 April 2025
