You never know quite what to expect from a Bong Joon Ho film. Parasite took the world – and the Oscars – by storm with its shapeshifting, genre-mashing narrative. Memories Of Murder was a largely sober serial-killer thriller, but with a higher-than-usual number of dropkicking detectives. Amid rip-roaring monster movie The Host comes a slapstick-comedy setpiece at a funeral. But under it all, Director Bong often picks at stories of people ekeing out life under the crushing weight of capitalism, heightening the absurdity of our everyday world. That continues in Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson – multiple times over, in fact – as Mickey, who agrees to be an ‘expendable’, sent on an intergalactic colonisation mission where he’ll be ‘reprinted’ every time he dies.
It is, Director Bong tells Empire in our world-exclusive Mickey 17 issue, “the most human story” he’s ever made. And, as with his previous work, it’s not necessarily painting the most flattering portrait of humanity. “Ultimately, the story is about how pathetic humans can be,” Bong explains. “It’s almost like you can smell every human character in the film — their piss stains and their smelly socks.” Stinking up the screen will be Pattinson, whose Mickeys are tasked with helping to prepare the ice world of Niflheim – crawling with creatures known as ‘creepers’ – for human habitation. Except, in a mishap, Mickey 18 ends up being printed prematurely, before Mickey 17’s demise – and both co-existing simultaneously spells potential disaster for his (or, their?) future. Especially when Mark Ruffalo’s virulently anti-expendable politician Marshall is in the picture.
For Bong, who always relishes a chance to up-end genre conventions, it’s a thrillingly downbeat take on how humans might try to live forever. “In most sci-fi films and fantasy stories, eternal life is treated as something sublime, spiritual, profound,” he says. “I was really captivated by the idea that human printing is not respectful at all. You’re literally reproducing humans like an inkjet printer.” With Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 running amok, that printer is about to jam. Somebody call tech support.
Read Empire’s full Mickey 17 feature – speaking to Bong Joon Ho, Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun and Naomi Ackie about their oddball sci-fi odyssey – in the December 2024 issue, on sale Thursday 24 October. Pre-order a copy online here. Mickey 17 comes to UK cinemas from 31 January.