Sorry Robert Pattinson fans, but you’ll have to wait a little longer to see the actor play 17 characters in the Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho’s new sci-fi thriller, Mickey 17, and it’s all because of a controversial upcoming biopic. Based on an original screenplay by Bong Joon-ho, Pattinson stars as the titular Mickey, who signs up to be a disposable employee on an interstellar expedition. Each time he dies, Mickey is human-printed on the space station, but things begin to spiral when too many duplicates are created.
Mickey 17 was supposed to be hitting theaters on January 31. However, the film has been pushed back by over two months, to an April 18 release date. Movies are often delayed for various reasons. But, the April release window was actually the original plan for Mickey 17, although it faced tough competition from Michael, the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic. Lionsgate has pushed back Michael even further to October, hoping to pick up Oscar buzz for the 2026 awards. As a result, April was free for Mickey 17 to fly right in. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. said in a statement:
“When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for ‘Mickey 17. We’re thrilled with the new date, and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX.”
Michael has been the target of criticism from some audiences due to Michael Jackson’s various sexual abuse allegations, the first of which came out way back in 1993. Following the release of Leaving Neverland, a two-part HBO documentary focusing on his accusers, Jackson has become a posthumously controversial figure. While some are hoping Michael will paint an unbiased picture of the singer and his personal life, others believe and assume that, in a biopic starring his own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, the darker side of the King of Pop’s life will be left on the cutting room floor.
Robert Pattinson Dies Multiple Times in Mickey 17
The evolution of Robert Pattinson’s career should be studied by anthropologists. Anyone who’s aware of the English actor knows him from his starring role in the Twilight franchise as the lead vampire, Edward Cullen. He also played a supporting but impactful role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. But, following his departure from Twilight, Robert Pattinson’s filmography has been the perfect antidote to his typecasting.
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Mickey 17 Director Reveals Real Reason Behind the Movie’s Release Delay
Bong Joon-ho has finally clarified why it took Mickey 17 almost an extra year to hit theaters.
Pattinson starred in several movies following Twilight, but truly received independent recognition for his leading role in the Safdie brothers’ Good Time — a role he earned by cold emailing them after only seeing a still from their previous movie. Since then, Pattinson has starred in the underrated sci-fi drama High Life, appeared alongside Willem Dafoe in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse, guided John David Washington through Tenet, lent his voice to Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron, and, oh yeah… did we mention he’s Batman!
Alongside Robert Pattinson, Mickey 17 features a star-studded supporting cast which includes Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie, and Angus Imrie. Bong Joon-ho’s dedicated fan base are eager to see the director return to the big screen after his sensational work on Parasite, which bagged four Oscars in 2020, including Best Motion Picture of the Year (the first foreign language film to win the award).
