Bong Joon-ho’s Upcoming Masterpiece Since Parasite — A $150 Million Sci-Fi Film Starring Hollywood’s Biggest Names

Director Bong Joon-ho, who created a global sensation with Parasite, has unveiled his highly anticipated new film, Mickey17. This ambitious project, a collaboration with Warner Bros., boasts a massive production budget of $150 million (approximately 200 billion won) and has already garnered worldwide attention.

The long-awaited film is set to premiere first in Korea in March 2025, marking Bong’s return to cinema with a sci-fi epic after a six-year hiatus.

A Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Narrative

Mickey17 tells the story of cloned humans sent to colonize an icy, uncharted planet in space. The protagonist, Mickey, is a clone engineered for dangerous expeditions, resurrected with the memories of his predecessor each time he dies.

Based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7, the story takes a dramatic turn when Mickey faces his 17th death, only to have a new clone, Mickey18, created to replace him. This unique premise of endless death and resurrection introduces a bold, fresh dimension to the sci-fi genre.

A Star-Studded Cast

The film features a stellar Hollywood cast, including Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. Pattinson takes on the role of “Mickey Barnes,” a disposable worker sent into space for high-risk missions. The tension-filled performance showcased in the trailer, released last December, has heightened anticipation for the film.

Life, Death, and High-Stakes Drama

A key rule in Mickey17 adds to its suspense: Mickey17 and Mickey18 cannot coexist. In a universe where multiple clones are illegal, one of the two must die. The second trailer’s haunting lines, “You have to get used to dying,” and “One of us must die,” highlight the film’s central themes of life, death, and the existential questions surrounding cloned beings.

Not Just Another Sci-Fi Film

Mickey17 goes beyond the sci-fi genre, delivering philosophical reflections on the meaning of existence and death through its story of cloned humans. With its massive $150 million budget, a star-studded cast, and visually stunning production, the film promises to captivate audiences worldwide with its gripping narrative and spectacular visuals.

Release Strategy

Warner Bros. Korea will debut Mickey17 in Korea in early March 2025. Initially scheduled for an April 18 release in North America, the film’s strong scores during test screenings prompted the release to be moved up.

Bong Joon-ho’s first film in six years, Mickey17, is poised to push boundaries in the sci-fi genre and shake up the global film industry once again. Fans eagerly await to see if Bong can deliver yet another masterpiece.