If it feels like you’ve been waiting forever for Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming movie, Mickey 17, you’re definitely not alone. This film has faced numerous delays for various reasons, but the buzz surrounding its second trailer is hard to ignore. They’re sticking with the March 7 release date, and at this point, it seems unlikely to shift again.
Originally, the plan was to position Mickey 17, an adaptation of Edward Ashton’s 2022 book Mickey7, as a big player for the 2024 awards season. However, Warner Bros. Pictures is now eyeing it as a strong contender to kick off the pre-summer 2025 season. This could be a smart move for box office numbers, though it might reduce its visibility with critics and award voters as the year progresses. Just look at Dune: Part Two. Despite being a highly celebrated film in 2024, its chances at the Oscars seem slim simply because it premiered in March rather than later in the year. Of course, there’s always a chance Mickey 17 might not deliver after all it’s been through, but the trailers sure paint an exciting picture.
The film promises a sci-fi adventure with robust elements of dark humor, starring Pattinson as Mickey Barnes. He plays an expendable worker on risky missions to colonize the icy terrain of Niflheim. When one Mickey perishes, a new duplicate, complete with most of his memories, replaces him. Critics are expecting a cocktail of satire and thrilling entertainment. The ensemble cast is impressive, featuring talents like Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, among others.
Take a look at the latest trailer:
Check it out on YouTube.
Pattinson is, predictably, set to deliver another remarkable performance, tapping into a more comedic side for this role. It’ll be fascinating to see how the different Mickeys are portrayed, especially when interacting on-screen. In addition, Ruffalo’s villainous character gets more screen time in this trailer compared to the last, and his showdown with a rebellious group promises to be as gritty as it is potentially hilarious. Bong Joon-ho, who adapted the screenplay, hasn’t let go of his knack for intense dramas, evident from his successes with Parasite and Okja.
This film also kicks off Warner Bros. Pictures’ lineup of auteur-driven projects for the year, with Barry Levinson’s mafia drama The Altos Knights arriving on March 21 and Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller, Sinners, following on April 18.