Robert Pattinson and director Bong Joon-ho attended the press conference for their upcoming film Mickey 17, held at CGV Yongsan Park Mall in Seoul, South Korea.
During the press conference, Bong said, “It’s been four to five years since I’ve held an event like this. Mickey 17 is a sci-fi film, but at the same time, it’s a deeply humanistic story full of humanity.”
Bong added, “It’s the story of Mickey, a powerless and pitiful young man played by Robert Pattinson. It’s a new take on sci-fi, brimming with the scent of humanity. I hope you look forward to it.”
Bong Joon Ho Reveals Why the Film Is Titled Mickey 17
The title Mickey 17 refers to the main character, Mickey, who has died 17 times while doing his dangerous job. Each time he dies, his mind is placed into a new body, allowing him to keep working.
The number “17” shows how many times this has happened, highlighting the harsh and repetitive nature of his life. It also reflects the movie’s focus on how people can be treated as replaceable and the challenges Mickey faces.
Bong said, “Talking about class might sound grand, but as I mentioned earlier, the protagonist is pitiful. Why is he pitiful? His job itself is dying. He’s assigned a role that is highly likely to result in death, and he’s sent to places designed for him to die. The title ‘Mickey 17’ means he has already died 17 times. It’s truly an extreme job.”
Bong added, “Every time he dies, he gets printed anew. It’s not cloning; it’s printing, like printing a document. Isn’t that inherently inhuman? The original novel, Mickey 7, also delves into human printing—humans being printed out. Just thinking about someone being printed is heartbreaking. Mickey represents the working class in extreme conditions. Naturally, themes of class are embedded in the story. However, the film doesn’t focus on class struggle or carry a political banner. It’s more about Mickey’s growth as a pitiful individual, and I hope viewers can see it as a coming-of-age story for Mickey.”
The film is written and directed by Joon-ho, based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton.
The unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.
The film also stars Naomi Ackie as Nasha Adjaya, Steven Yeun as Berto, Toni Collette as Gwen Johansen, Mark Ruffalo as Hieronymous Marshall, Holliday Grainger, Anamaria Vartolomei, Thomas Turgoose, Angus Imrie as Shrimp Eyes, Patsy Ferran, Daniel Henshall, and Steve Park as Agent Zeke.
The film is produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Joon Ho, and Dooho Choi. The executive producers are Brad Pitt, Jesse Ehrman, Peter Dodd, and Marianne Jenkins. The director of photography is Darius Khondji. The production designer is Fiona Crombie. It is edited by Yang Jinmo. The visual effects supervisor is Dan Glass, and the costume designer is Catherine George.
Mickey 17 will be released in South Korea on February 28, 2025, and worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will hit theaters nationwide on January 31, 2025, and internationally beginning on January 28, 2025.
