Sci-Fi Silver Lining: Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson’s Mickey 17 Defies Expectations Despite 3 Delays

Director Bong Joon-ho’s latest film Mickey 17 has instantly captured audience interest as ticket pre-sales opened.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing system on February 13, Mickey 17, which began pre-sales on February 11, quickly climbed to third place in real-time ticket sales, following Captain America: Brave New World and Secret: Untold Melody. The film’s ticket sales rate reached 7.5%, surpassing the 6.7% recorded on February 12. The number of pre-sale tickets also jumped from 16,500 the previous day to 21,154.

Based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey 7, the film follows a cloned human named Mickey, who is sent on a dangerous space mission to colonize an ice-covered planet. Mickey serves as a disposable worker, resurrected in a new body each time he dies. The story takes a dramatic turn when, after Mickey’s 17th death, a new clone, Mickey 18, is printed, setting off an unpredictable chain of events.

Hollywood actor Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey, taking on a dual role. During a recent press conference in Korea, Pattinson shared his admiration for Bong Joon-ho, saying, "There are only four or five directors in the world at Bong Joon-ho’s level. When I received the casting offer, I immediately accepted." He also described the script as "the most interesting and bizarre sci-fi story I’ve ever read."

Bong Joon-ho himself expressed excitement about the film, calling it "a new kind of sci-fi filled with human emotions." He added, "For the first time in my 25-year directing career, I’m featuring a love story. The romance between Mickey and Nasha plays a significant role in the film."

Mickey 17 marks Bong Joon-ho’s first feature film in six years since Parasite, heightening anticipation for how his signature directing style and social commentary will be woven into the story. Just as Parasite sharply depicted class struggles, reports suggest that Mickey 17 will also explore themes of social hierarchy.

Global Media Anticipation and Release Date Shifts

International media outlets are also expressing high expectations for Mickey 17. CNN noted, "It has been six years since visionary Korean director Bong Joon-ho stunned audiences with the Oscar-winning Parasite. After multiple delays, Mickey 17 is finally set for release."

Film critics both in Korea and abroad are showing keen interest in the project. U.S. film magazine Splash Film described the movie as "a bold and unique swing," while Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist commented on the shifting release dates, saying, "Mickey 17 had no reason not to open last fall or in December. The delay is puzzling."

The film’s frequent release date changes have sparked speculation that its broad appeal may have been a concern. Originally set for release on March 29, 2023, Warner Bros. postponed it to January 31, 2024, reportedly due to the impact of the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. Some analysts suggested that the new date was chosen to align with the Lunar New Year holidays in East Asia, although late January is considered a slow season for Hollywood.

Then, in November 2023, Warner Bros. announced another delay, moving the release to April 18, citing a strategy to maximize IMAX screenings. At the time, Variety speculated that the new date aimed to capitalize on the Easter holiday weekend in the U.S.

However, the studio later rescheduled the film again, this time for March 7, citing opportunities to attract audiences during the U.S. spring break season and secure extended IMAX screenings. They also attributed the change to confidence gained from highly positive feedback in test screenings.

Despite these explanations, some industry experts found the reasoning questionable, as spring break is typically a slow season for U.S. theaters, with many college students traveling. Notably, Warner Bros.' past blockbusters like Dune: Part Two and The Batman were both released in early March.

Ultimately, Mickey 17’s final release date was set for February 28. This led to online speculation that the film’s niche themes and subject matter may not have broad commercial appeal in North America.

On the online community Theqoo, Korean netizens reacted with comments like:

"It probably lacks mainstream appeal."

"This doesn’t seem like something that would click with American audiences—it looks pretty niche. If Warner Bros. was really backing it, they would’ve started marketing by now. Summer blockbusters are already rolling out their campaigns."

"A sci-fi film about cloned humans? That’s not exactly a crowd-pleaser in the U.S. And if it’s R-rated, it might not perform well in Asia either."

Some foreign media outlets speculated that Warner Bros. may have been hesitant about Bong Joon-ho’s vision for the film. However, Bong dismissed these concerns, stating, "Mickey 17 was always planned as a director’s final cut project, and the film was completed with my own edit. Everything went smoothly with Warner Bros., and there were no conflicts."

Mickey 17 is set for its world premiere in South Korea on February 28.

Robert Pattinson’s Dual Role:

Pattinson plays both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, showcasing contrasting personas. Mickey 17 is depicted as a naive and unfortunate young man, while Mickey 18 exudes an eerie and unpredictable charisma, offering a diverse range of performances.

A Sci-Fi Story Rooted in Humanity:

While Mickey 17 is a sci-fi film centered on cloning, Bong Joon-ho emphasizes its deeply human elements rather than scientific aspects. Instead of portraying an intellectual hero, the film follows an unlucky, struggling worker forced into perilous conditions, resonating with themes of labor and exploitation.

First Collaboration Between Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson:

This marks the first partnership between Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson, raising curiosity about their creative synergy. Bong reportedly had Pattinson in mind from the start and highly praised his acting range.

Philosophical and Ethical Questions About Cloning:

The film delves into deep philosophical discussions on identity, self-awareness, and ethics, continuing Bong’s signature exploration of human nature and societal structures, leaving audiences with thought-provoking questions.