What’s that? You say your boss is tough because they expect you to answer emails after 6 PM? Pfft. Try working for someone who literally expects you to die for the job. Repeatedly. That’s exactly what poor (yet oddly chill about it) Mickey Barnes is dealing with in Bong Joon Ho’s upcoming sci-fi rollercoaster, “Mickey 17.”
Yes, the mastermind behind Parasite—you know, the film that won every award ever and also kind of ruined peaches for a while—is back. And this time, he’s trading class warfare for clone chaos with a story that’s as wild as it is wonderfully weird.
Let’s Talk About Mickey
Mickey Barnes, played by Robert Pattinson (yes, our beloved brooding Batman-slash-Twilight heartthrob), has a job most of us would definitely swipe left on. He’s what’s called an “Expendable.” Which, in HR-speak, means he signs up to do deadly missions… and dies. But here’s the kicker—he keeps coming back. Like a sci-fi version of your least favorite group chat, Mickey just can’t stay gone.
And Mickey isn’t just any copy-paste employee. He’s number seventeen. Which means sixteen other versions of him already got squished, squashed, vaporized, or worse. Honestly, at this point, the man deserves a loyalty card and a strong cup of coffee.
A Cast So Good, It’s Basically Illegal
Backing up Pattinson in this high-concept cloning caper is a dream team of award magnets and scene stealers. We’re talking:
- Naomi Ackie bringing intergalactic flair (remember her from Star Wars?).
- Steven Yeun, who could honestly read a grocery list and make it Oscar-worthy.
- Toni Collette, who never plays it safe (and we love her for it).
- Mark Ruffalo, the human teddy bear of chaos, here to make us question everything.
It’s like assembling the Avengers, if the Avengers were emotionally complex and possibly questioning their own existence.
Bong Joon Ho Is in His Mad Genius Era (Again)
Adapted from Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7, Bong Joon Ho is once again doing what he does best—taking a “wait, what?!” premise and turning it into a cinematic experience that’s equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and mind-melting.
And he’s brought the whole squad back for this one: cinematographer Darius Khondji, editor Yang Jinmo, composer Jung Jaeil (yes, Parasite and Squid Game vibes incoming), and costume wizard Catherine George. Translation? This film’s going to look, sound, and feel like nothing you’ve ever seen. Probably because you haven’t. Unless your life includes regular existential run-ins with clones and corporations.
“Mickey 17” Is the Sci-Fi Fever Dream You Didn’t Know You Needed
So, if you’re into stories that blend dark humor, deep feels, and just a touch of cloning trauma (who isn’t?), “Mickey 17” should be at the top of your must-watch list. It’s smart, it’s strange, and it’s coming to blow your beautifully average mind.
Catch it soon in theaters, and maybe don’t complain about your job for a bit—unless your contract also includes multiple deaths and reboots. In which case… you are Mickey. Good luck.
