Mickey 17 is a 2025 science fiction black comedy directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, an “Expendable” worker on a mission to colonize the icy planet Niflheim. Expendables are tasked with dangerous assignments, knowing they can be regenerated with their memories intact upon death. Complications arise when Mickey 17, presumed dead, returns to find he has been replaced by a new clone, Mickey 18, leading to existential dilemmas and ethical conflicts.
Bong Joon-ho infuses the narrative with dark humor and satirical elements, exploring themes of identity, self-worth, and the implications of cloning technology. Pattinson delivers a nuanced performance, portraying both iterations of Mickey as they navigate their shared existence and the challenges posed by their predicament. The supporting cast includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, who contribute to the film’s exploration of class disparity and personal growth. Mickey 17 offers a thought-provoking and entertaining examination of what it means to be human in an era of technological replication.
