Fans eagerly anticipating the next cinematic venture from Oscar-winning South Korean director Bong Joon-ho will need to mark a new date on their calendars, as his upcoming American science fiction film, “Mickey 17,” is now set to open in theaters in 2025. The film, which features Hollywood star Robert Pattinson in the lead role, was originally slated for a March 29, 2024 release. However, it has been pushed back to January 31, 2025, Variety has reported.
The shifting of “Mickey 17” release date by Warner Bros. comes as an adjustment due to prior production delays including last year’s industry strikes. This new timeline will also allow the high-profile sci-fi flick to make its debut on IMAX screens, a feat that would not have been feasible on its initial release date due to prior bookings for other films.
Additionally, the new release date aligns with the Lunar New Year, a peak period for the global box office, potentially setting the stage for a successful opening. Bong Joon-ho’s last film, “Parasite,” achieved monumental success by becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and reaching the highest gross for a Korean film in history. Expectations are high that “Mickey 17” will follow in its predecessor’s critically acclaimed footsteps.
The critically anticipated film is set to premiere in the wake of another family-friendly movie, “Paddington in Peru,” which will welcome audiences earlier in the United States on January 17. A fortnight after “Mickey 17” lights up screens, audiences will rally to theaters once again for Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World,” scheduled for release on February 14.
In “Mickey 17,” Bong Joon-ho not only serves as the director but also assumes roles as writer and producer, a venture undertaken through his company, Offscreen. Joining Bong in the production efforts are Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner from Plan B alongside Dooho Choi of Kate Street Pictures.
“Mickey 17” draws its narrative from the 2022 novel by Edward Ashton, labeled as a visceral, high-concept thriller reminiscing of “The Martian” and “Dark Matter” by St. Martin Press. Pattinson portrays an “expendable,” a dispensable employee part of a human expedition aimed at colonizing an ice planet. As the storyline unfolds, Pattinson’s character rebels against being replaced by his own clone, setting the premise for a compelling tale of identity, survival, and humanity.
Adding to the film’s star power, the cast includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, promising a potent blend of talent that is sure to captivate audiences. Variety notes the ensemble of acclaimed actors as one of the film’s most compelling aspects.
As “Mickey 17” encounters a slight detour in its journey to the big screen, fans of Bong Joon-ho and science fiction alike remain eager for what promises to be a cinematic experience blending the director’s signature storytelling with a stellar cast and a rich, thought-provoking narrative. As the release date edges closer, all eyes will be on “Mickey 17” to see if it can replicate or even surpass the extraordinary benchmark set by “Parasite.” With its strategic release timing and the creative might behind it, “Mickey 17” could be the next big hit to begin 2025 with a spectacular launch, ringing in the Lunar New Year with an interstellar journey that’s as much about the stars in front of the camera as the stars in the cosmos it explores.
