Adapted from a novel by Edward Ashton and written, produced, and directed by Bong Joon Ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer), the feature film tells the story of Mickey 17, an expendable employee on a mission to colonize the frozen world of Niflheim. Each time an iteration dies, his body regenerates, retaining most of his memories intact.
Mickey 17 is already available in cinemas, and if you haven’t considered watching it yet, this interview with director Bong Joon Ho will surely convince you:
What about Mickey 17’s story convinced you to make this film?
Bong Joon Ho: Knowing the original novel’s story, I was instantly drawn to it. Then, with every page of the script, I became more and more captivated because I found its concept—human multiplication—unique, something different from cloning. It was as if you were printing real people the same way you print sheets of paper. And I thought that human printing—even the term itself—was something tragic, especially as a profession. That’s how I started imagining myself in that world, with every new printed version of myself. I was instantly transported into it.
I find the character Mickey Barnes fascinating and compelling. Even in the novel, Mickey is just an ordinary man… but I wanted to push him even deeper into mediocrity, into poverty, making him seem like a true loser. That’s how I came up with all sorts of ideas about how to build the film.
That ties perfectly into our next question: What made Robert Pattinson the perfect choice to play Mickey Barnes, the ordinary guy who signs up to be expendable?
Bong Joon Ho: It’s possible that Rob showed a goofy side even during our first meeting. But yes, I noticed that in him, and I already knew how incredible he was as an actor from films like The Lighthouse, The Batman, and especially Good Time—seriously, you’ll love it, by the Safdie brothers. I already knew he had a wide acting range. The question was: could this actor bring Mickey to life? He had to play two roles, Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, who have very different personalities—was there an actor who could cover such a broad spectrum? And Robert Pattinson was the first name that came to mind when I thought about who could handle these two very different roles.
So, I didn’t have to think long about the casting choice. I decided quickly and made the offer, and Rob responded just as quickly with a yes. It was a very smooth and happy casting process.
What did Robert bring to this character? How did he find the tone or pulse of this “everyman”?
Bong Joon Ho: As we adapted the script from the book, we added many descriptive details to the character. But no matter how many details were written, they were just words on a page in practice. It was the actor’s responsibility to bring the character to life. Rob brought a lot of creative nuances and details. I was very impressed with his contribution. With Mickey 17, we followed the script’s details, but with Mickey 18, Rob was the one who added the spice. He improvised a lot during filming, with funny or bold lines, and I was thrilled to see the character come to life. I’m especially grateful for how he shaped Mickey 18.
Naomi Ackie plays Nasha, who becomes Mickey’s girlfriend during the long journey to the new planet. What did Naomi bring to the character?
Bong Joon Ho: Naomi is an actress with explosive energy. Mickey relies on her throughout the film. Their relationship is completely unconventional, the opposite of the love stories we’re used to. Nasha is stronger, more charismatic, and courageous, while Mickey is a whiner, dependent on his partner. Naomi did a great job, especially in scenes where she had to confront Commander Marshall (played by Mark Ruffalo).
There are moments where she appears as a frontline warrior, and she’s so heroic and unpredictable—far beyond what I originally imagined for the character. She brought a different energy to the role. There are intense moments where it feels like she’s screaming with her entire body, radiating a devastating force. It’s as if her voice could shatter glass, and her energy drives the action forward. Audiences will feel that.
Mark Ruffalo plays Kenneth Marshall, and Toni Collette plays his wife, Ylfa. He is the leader of this colonization expedition. Can you tell me about these characters and what these amazing actors bring to their roles?
Bong Joon Ho: Ylfa, in particular, is not a character from the original novel. I created her so that she and Marshall could function as a dictator couple. In the film, we see some of the most ridiculous dictators, and I wanted to emphasize that through a duo dynamic.
Mark Ruffalo—who has an incredible acting career—had surprisingly never played a villain before. When I handed him the script, he was quite surprised, like, “Why are you giving me this?” But once we started production, he had so much fun. He enjoyed playing the character and embraced the new challenge.
As for Toni Collette, I became a huge fan long before her incredible performance in Hereditary, more from films like Muriel’s Wedding and The Sixth Sense. She has always pushed human limits in her performances, so I saw her as perfect for Ylfa from the beginning. She plays this truly bizarre, unique character obsessed with sauce and talks about how sauce is the litmus test for human civilization.
Mickey’s best friend is Timo. In my opinion, he might not be such a great friend. He’s played by Steven Yeun. Can you tell me a little about Timo?
Bong Joon Ho: If you look at Mickey, he’s just a loser. He’s alone, not much is happening in his life, and his only friend seems to be Timo, who is the exact opposite of him. Timo is a slippery guy who always does his own thing, the opposite of Mickey, who is stuck in patterns. Timo is pragmatic, cunning, clever… but he’s not exactly a villain either. That’s what makes him so interesting—you can’t quite hate him.
The two of them have a strange yet fascinating friendship. It reminds me of Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro in Mean Streets. Their dynamic is a bit odd. And Steven brings a certain diplomatic quality to the role—like a politician—you just can’t hate him, even if he’s not a great friend at all.
This film seems to mark your return to the human themes you explore so beautifully in your films. How does Mickey Barnes’ story give you opportunities to explore these ideas?
Bong Joon Ho: The key sci-fi concept in this story, from the original novel, is human multiplication and human printing, and I think these two words already tell you everything. It’s a combination that shouldn’t exist: human printing. The concept destroys human dignity from the start. Printing people as if they were sheets of paper is just the beginning of these problems.
If you look at the other characters and how they treat Mickey, you can divide them into two groups: those who respect him as a normal individual and those who see him as garbage, treating him like a lab rat. Even more than that, Mickey 17, unlike 18, has no self-respect. But 18 is a mutant—reckless but ultimately helps 17 regain his self-esteem and courage.
Why is Mickey 17 the perfect film for the big screen, especially in special formats like IMAX?
Bong Joon Ho: In Seoul, I attended an IMAX screening to validate the final quality of the film. I sat in the best seat in the theater and thought to myself: “This is what cinema is all about.” The film needs to be experienced in a movie theater, together with friends.
Some say this is the era of streaming, but the power of the big screen will undoubtedly last forever. As a member of the audience and a cinephile—something I was before becoming a filmmaker and still am—I can assure you that watching this film in IMAX is an incredible experience.
