Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Mickey 17,’ Starring Robert Pattinson, to Premiere at Berlin Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

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Jan 10

Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi film, Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson, is set to have its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, marking a major milestone for the celebrated director’s first film since Parasite.

The $118 million epic comes with high expectations, as Bong’s previous work, Parasite, made cinematic history by winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes and becoming the first foreign-language film to take home the Academy Award for Best Picture. Mickey 17 will debut in South Korean theaters on February 28, with a global release by Warner Bros. set to follow on March 7.

The Berlin Film Festival premiere is a significant win for the Berlinale’s new artistic director, Tricia Tuttle. Known for her innovative leadership during her tenure at the BFI London Film Festival, Tuttle has brought a fresh, dynamic vision to Berlin’s programming. The addition of Mickey 17 to the festival lineup underscores the Berlinale’s growing reputation as a premier destination for high-profile global cinema.

Based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7, the sci-fi thriller follows Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, an “expendable” colonizer sent on perilous missions to inhabit an icy planet. When one version of Mickey dies, a duplicate is created to take his place, retaining his memories and sense of self. The film explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and humanity’s future. Alongside Pattinson, the star-studded cast includes Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.

Bong Joon Ho not only directed the film but also co-produced it through his company Offscreen, alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B and Dooho Choi of Kate Street Pictures.

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Warner Bros. initially slated the film for a March 2024 release but shifted the date twice, ultimately landing on late February 2025. This change allowed the filmmakers additional time to complete the project, which faced delays due to the Hollywood strikes, and secure a lucrative IMAX release window.

The buzz surrounding Mickey 17 has only intensified following its selection for the Berlinale. The film’s premiere will coincide with the 75th edition of the Berlin Film Festival, which is revitalizing its Potsdamer Platz location with new venues, including the Stage Bluemax Theater and the Berlinale Hub75.

The festival will open with Tom Tykwer’s The Light, presented as a Berlinale Special Gala. Tykwer, known for Run Lola Run and Babylon Berlin, returns to feature filmmaking after a seven-year hiatus.

The full Berlinale lineup, which includes Mickey 17, will be revealed on January 21. The festival runs from February 13 to February 23, promising an exciting slate of films under Tuttle’s direction.

For more information about the Berlin Film Festival, visit berlinale.de.