The ‘MICKEY 17’ Trailer Offers a Glimpse into Bong Joon-Ho’s Upcoming Sci-Fi Dark Comedy

Bong Joon-Ho’s upcoming film Mickey 17 is set to release in theaters on March 7, after many release date changes. The film is based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel, Mickey7. The trailer reveals a satirical tone and crazed performances from Robert Pattinson and the actors that are playing alongside him. From the mad adventures Pattinson’s character takes on to the strange creatures that lurk on the frozen planet of Niflheim, there’s no doubt in our minds that this will be an exciting film.

Here’s a synopsis of the film: “The unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstances of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.”

You can check out the official trailer below:

What is Mickey 17?

The novel explores the adventures of space colonist Mickey Barnes, who is trying to survive in a beachheads colony in an alien world. He is an “expendable,” who is tasked to take on dangerous missions where he is likely to die. When he does, another clone takes his place with the majority of his memories intact. Mickey takes the reader onto his journey where it ultimately leads to an accidental creation of two Mickeys.

Ashton started writing the book in 2015. According to him, he first started writing a short story that explored immortality. “I like the idea and wanted to see how that could be expanded if you coupled it with an exploitative social structure.”

When the book finally released in 2022, it received high praise. NPR included the novel in its list of the Best Sci-Fi Books of 2022. Shortly after its release, it was soon announced the book was going to be adapted as a film with Bong Joon-Ho set to both direct and write the script. Ashton has said that Bong Joon-Ho is “going to change a lot about the book” but isn’t worried as he has described Bong as a “genius.” Filming began in August 2022 and was wrapped that same December. Ashton worked alongside Bong as a writer in the film.

The film was originally set to release on March 29, 2024 but was pushed back due to delays related to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Mickey 17 will mark Bong’s first directorial effort since 2019’s Parasite and it will have its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. According to Variety, there is a possibility that a premiere of the film will be released in South Korea before the Berlinale Festival. Promotion for the film has already begun in Seoul, South Korea and more recently in Paris with Robert Pattinson hosting a Mickey 17 reception.