A Futuristic Space Film From Robert Pattinson: Mickey 17

A futuristic space film from Robert Pattinson and Bong Joon Ho: Mickey 17

Bong Joon Ho is returning with his first film since the Oscar-winning Parasite.

South Korean director Bong Joon Ho won the Palme d’Or and an Oscar with his film Parasite. It has been six years since these awards. Now, the South Korean director has decided to adapt Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey 17 into a film, which will be his third movie shot in English.

Mickey 17 will be filmed as a sci-fi comedy.

So what is Mickey 17 about?

The film, featuring a cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Naomi Ackie, follows Mickey Barnes, a “disposable” worker assigned to a job on the frozen planet Niflheim.

The film is set in the year 2054. Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) and his business partner Timo (Steven Yeun), who owe a large debt to a loan shark on Earth, venture into the macaron business, hoping to establish something bigger than burger joints. However, when things don’t go as planned, they are forced to take on an even larger debt from the loan shark.

Wanting to keep their macaron business afloat, our entrepreneurs agree to join a planetary water exploration mission led by Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) and his gastronomy-obsessed wife, Ylfa (Toni Collette).

Already in a desperate situation, Mickey immediately accepts the application. However, in this mission, he is actually used as a test subject, facing dangers such as radiation poisoning and deadly viruses. Whenever Mickey dies for any reason during the mission, his body is thrown into a furnace and destroyed. Then, a new version of Mickey is biologically reproduced, with all of his memories reloaded.

This plot is a variation of the “Live, Die, Repeat” theme that we’ve seen in many films before.

While continuing his mission, Mickey’s 17th copy is abandoned to die by Timo during a task. Soon after, the 18th copy of Mickey is created before the 17th copy dies. Since there can only be one Mickey on the planet, the 17th copy must be erased. As Mickey 17 plans to live alongside Mickey 18, the more ruthless Mickey 18 is driven by a thirst for revenge.

When the space colony faces the insect-alien race, the Creepers, who stand in the way of Marshall’s “pure white planet” plans, a second major problem arises for Mickey.

If you enjoy the sci-fi genre and are looking for a bit of comedy as well, this film would be a great recommendation for you.