Robert Pattinson stars in Bong Joon Ho’s science fiction black comedy Mickey 17 (2025), which explores themes of survival, capitalism, and identity. The movie, which is based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 book Mickey7, centers on Mickey Barnes, a “Expendable” human clone who is sent to the icy planet Niflheim to colonize. Mickey is reborn with his memories intact each time he dies, which creates existential problems when several versions of him cohabit.
Plot Overview
As a “Expendable”—a laborer who is cloned after every death—Mickey Barnes embarks on a space voyage in 2054 in order to elude a loan shark. Mickey 17 is created after arriving to Niflheim and being assumed killed during a mission. The colony’s stringent procedures, which are supervised by the autocratic leader Kenneth Marshall, are put to the test when Mickey 17 returns since there are two clones. The Mickeys have to deal with threats from the colony’s leadership as well as the Creepers, the planet’s indigenous animals, as tensions increase. In order to restore his humanity, Mickey 17 destroys the cloning equipment in the film’s uprising against repressive regimes.
Cast and Characters
- Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes / Mickey 17 / Mickey 18
- Naomi Ackie as Nasha Barridge, a security agent and Mickey’s love interest
- Steven Yeun as Timo, a pilot and Mickey’s friend from Earth
- Toni Collette as Ylfa Marshall, the devious wife of the colony’s leader
- Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall, an egomaniacal politician with sinister designs for Niflheim
The ensemble cast gives strong performances that give the many characters in the Mickey 17 film nuance.
Production Insights
Before Edward Ashton’s book was published, director Bong Joon Ho started work on Mickey 17, creating a script that deviates from the original in terms of tone and character development. From August to December 2022, Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden served as the location for filming. Bong and designer Jang Hee-chul worked together to create the visual effects, especially the “Creepers,” which are the planet’s indigenous species. Framestore, DNEG, and Rising Sun Pictures handled the VFX.
Robert Pattinson’s depiction of several Mickeys necessitated unique characterizations, and Pattinson drew inspiration from a variety of sources to distinguish the personalities of each clone.
Musical Score
After Okja and Parasite, Jung Jae-il worked with Bong Joon Ho on the film’s soundtrack for the third time. The music, which was recorded in London at Abbey Road Studios, accompanies the film’s tonal transitions between drama, humor, and tension.
Release and Reception
The film received a CinemaScore of “B” and a PostTrak audience score of 4 out of 5 stars. Despite production delays caused by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, Mickey 17 earned a USD131.8 million worldwide gross. The film debuted at Leicester Square in London on February 13, 2025, and was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15. It was released in South Korea on February 28 and the United States on March 7. Critics have praised the film’s uniqueness and Pattinson’s performance, but some have pointed out the intricacy of the plot.
