Inside Mickey 17: Bong Joon Ho and Robert Pattinson Discuss Mortality and Renewal

      Despite his dashing appearance, Robert Pattinson, the star of Mickey 17, claims to be quite accident-prone. Speaking to him from the set of his upcoming film The Drama in Boston, he mentions his inability to move his neck due to a recent injury from a workout.

      "I don't get why my neck hurts when I was just doing a leg workout," he says, recalling how he constantly injured himself while filming 2022's The Batman: "I tried to make it look good, but it turned into a mess."

      Mickey 17, which is directed by Bong Joon Ho as a follow-up to his acclaimed 2019 film Parasite, follows a character named Mickey Barnes, portrayed by Pattinson, tasked with unpleasant duties on the alien planet Niflheim. He dies repeatedly due to various mishaps and is revived through a procedure called "reprinting."

      Pattinson acknowledges that accidents seemed to happen frequently.

      "I felt at ease with stunts in Mickey 17 because I could make falling look bad," he explains. "For some reason, being a bit clumsy has its perks; I don’t really seem to injure myself much from just falling... I think falling is my comfort zone."

      This article is featured in MovieMaker’s Winter 2025 issue, now available on newsstands, accompanied by additional images. Photo by Jonathan Olley, courtesy of Warner Bros. Cover design by Ryan Ward.

      Pattinson possesses a distinctly British, self-deprecating humor. He sparked a fan uproar when, in a casual remark to GQ in 2020 before The Batman hit theaters, he stated that he wasn’t putting in much effort to work out for the role. He later clarified to MovieMaker the following year, "You're playing Batman. You have to work out," but explained that discussing his fitness details with GQ was quite embarrassing.

      Hence, one should take Pattinson’s claims of clumsiness with a touch of skepticism, while also appreciating his dry humor. However, it is true that filmmaking almost always involves mishaps followed by resolutions.

      And with Bong Joon Ho at the helm, those mishaps often lead to something remarkable.

      The South Korean director immediately connected with Mickey7, the bestselling novel by Edward Ashton on which Mickey 17 is based.

      "Mickey7 tells the story of someone trapped in a cycle of constant death. He undergoes a grueling and terrifying process repeatedly. I found this relatable to my situation as a filmmaker," Bong reflects.

      "Of course, this isn't a theme that's overtly stated in the film, but I somewhat identify with this struggle because, while I don’t literally die each time, I do pour my body, heart, and soul into each film. Sometimes it genuinely feels like I die and am reborn with every project."

      (L-R) Anamaria Vartolomei, Robert Pattinson, and director Bong Joon Ho on the set of Mickey 17, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Jonathan Olley, courtesy of Warner Bros.

      Parasite made waves in 2019, a time when the film industry was flourishing, showcasing immense possibilities for both Bong and cinema as a whole: A thriller infused with comedy, sci-fi, and horror elements, it also presented a thought-provoking commentary on class. It not only grossed over $260 million worldwide but also captured a substantial portion of that revenue in the United States, where audiences typically shy away from subtitles. Moreover, it secured Oscars for Best International Feature Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture — proving to be a multifaceted success.

      One might anticipate even greater success for Mickey 17. Although Bong encouraged audiences during his acceptance speeches for Parasite to "overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles," he has made Mickey 17 more accessible to American viewers by filming in English and casting a major movie star in the lead role.

      However, the circumstances of 2025 differ vastly from those of 2019. The industry has faced turmoil from COVID and strikes, with many blockbuster films suffering setbacks in the past year.

      The industry appears poised for revival — or perhaps multiple revivals.

      Regardless of how Mickey 17 performs, Pattinson enjoyed the filmmaking experience, including the falls.

      "Bong made it look simple and enjoyable," he remarks. "This was one of the best jobs I've had because most of the time I was just doing things to make him laugh. I felt like a jester, trusting that Bong was navigating us in the right direction."

      A Milestone for Bong Joon Ho

      Bong Joon Ho and Robert Pattinson. Photo by Jonathan Olley, courtesy of Warner Bros.

      This year marks 25 years since Bong’s debut with Barking Dogs Never Bite, which was first showcased to international audiences at the Slamdance Film Festival, where it received the Excellence in Editing Award.

      "I often feel a bit embarrassed when I think back to Bark