Bong Joon-ho Discusses 'Mickey 17' Amidst Martial Law in South Korea
On February 20, a press conference for the film 'Mickey 17' was held at the Megabox COEX in Seoul, featuring director Bong Joon-ho and cast members Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, and producer Choi Doo-ho from Kate Street Picture Company. The film's lead, Robert Pattinson, had previously visited South Korea for a promotional tour last month.
'Mickey 17' (written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, produced by Plan B Entertainment, and distributed by Warner Bros. Korea) tells the story of Mickey (Robert Pattinson), an expendable worker who is sent on dangerous missions. As he faces his 17th death, a new version, Mickey 18 (also played by Pattinson), is printed, leading to unexpected events. The film is based on the science fiction novel 'Mickey 7' by Edward Ashton, and it marks Bong's first release in six years since his Academy Award-winning film 'Parasite.' This is also his third international project following 'Okja' and 'Snowpiercer.'
Pattinson, who transitioned from a teen star in the 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter' franchises to a serious actor, is joined by Hollywood stars including Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, and Toni Collette. Bong Joon-ho and the cast recently attended the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where they participated in special gala events before returning to Korea.
Reflecting on the reactions of foreign actors during the recent martial law in South Korea, Bong shared, "When the news of the martial law broke, Mark Ruffalo emailed me to check if I was okay, and I reassured him that I was safe. He expressed concern, and I told him not to worry."
Bong also mentioned that Ruffalo was curious about the chart performance of Rosé's song 'On The Ground' from BLACKPINK, but the sudden announcement of martial law was jarring. Despite the circumstances, he emphasized that life continues with music and film, stating, "I hope many people come to see this movie. It represents the proud resilience of citizens who have already overcome the martial law. I believe we have moved past it, and what remains are just legal formalities."
'Mickey 17' is set to premiere in South Korea on February 28, marking its global debut.
