Robert Pattinson's latest role in the forthcoming film, Mickey 17, has sparked a frenzy among fans, with the trailer racking up ten million views on Youtube within just two days.
Slated for release on January 31, 2025, the sci-fi flick is based on Edward Ashton's novel, Mickey 7 and boasts a star-studded cast including Naomi Ackie (Blink Twice), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Toni Collette (Hereditary) and Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things). The plot revolves around Mickey Barnes (Pattinson), a dispensable worker who continually dies and is cloned - hence why R Patz keeps meeting his end in the trailer.
With such a high-profile cast attached to the eagerly awaited film, it's easy to overlook the ground-breaking South Korean director at the helm, Bong Joon Ho. Born in Daegu, South Korea in 1969, Bong began his filmmaking journey in the 1990s at the Korean Academy of Film Arts, creating short films.
Two of these shorts, Memory in the Frame and Incoherence, were later chosen for screening at the Vancouver and Hong Kong international film festivals. His career has since skyrocketed on a global scale, culminating in him bagging four Oscars.
Here's a brief overview of some of his most significant works to familiarise you with the filmmaker before the premiere of Mickey 17.
Parasite (2019) Parasite, the film that catapulted director Bong Joon-ho into global fame, dominated the 2020 awards season and made history as the first non-English-language film to clinch the Best Picture award at the Oscars. The emotional moment was captured on camera as his wife, Jung Sun-young, was seen shedding a tear following the announcement, reports the Daily Star.
The film also bagged awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature.
The film, 'true' to Bong's signature style, delves into complex themes such as class disparity, social inequality, and corruption. While it's best to go into the film blind, Bong himself described it as 'a funny and scary movie', during a chat with Jimmy Fallon.
Released on Netflix, Okja tells the story of a young girl named Mija (played by Ahn Seo-hyun), who embarks on a mission to save her genetically engineered super pig, Okja, from a greedy corporation. The film features an all-star cast including Tilda Swinton as a ruthless CEO, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun, and Paul Dano.
The touching narrative addresses issues of animal cruelty and food production ethics.
Snowpiercer (2013)Snowpiercer, Bong's first English-language film, earned the director critical acclaim, including a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score. Set in a post-apocalyptic frozen world, on a train that never stops moving, the film offers sharp commentary on wealth disparity.
Chris Evans takes the lead in this futuristic thriller alongside co-stars Tilda Swinton and Song Kang-ho. The film, which was adapted from a graphic novel written by Jacques Lob, was later adapted into the now-beloved TV series.
The Host (2006)Early in his career, Bong took a stellar swing at the monster movie genre with The Host. An example of Bong's love for genre-bending, the film focuses on a family trying to save their daughter from a mutant creature that has risen from the Han River in Seoul.
The film mixes elements of satire, family drama and horror and is one of South Korea's biggest box-office hits.
As with all of the director's works, Mickey 17 is expected to be a fascinating watch with thoughtful social commentary.
