One of the most intriguing films set to release this year is Mickey 17, a space sci-fi thriller starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Bong Joon-ho.
Joon-ho, who most recently gained international acclaim for Parasite, the 2019 psychological thriller that made history as the first foreign language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, is back with this highly anticipated project.
However, Mickey 17 has faced its share of difficulties in recent years, having already changed its release date four times.
Initially scheduled to premiere on March 29, 2024, the film is now confirmed for release on March 7, 2024. A recent report from Deadline has offered some insight into the delays and what has been happening behind the scenes with Mickey 17.
According to Deadline, the film was completed in January 2023, nearly two years ago. However, director Joon-ho and Warner Bros. have spent the past few years fine-tuning the final cut, with Joon-ho having the final say on what makes it into the movie.
The studio has reportedly been underwhelmed by the reception of the first two trailers for Mickey 17, which have garnered less audience interest when compared to trailers for other major projects like Superman and Minecraft.
Warner Bros. has invested $80 million into Mickey 17, which also stars Oscar-nominated actors Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, and Steven Yeun.
To break even, the film will likely need to gross close to $200 million worldwide. Joon-ho is a director whose films don’t always follow conventional box office patterns.
For instance, while Parasite earned $262 million, other films like Okja went straight to streaming. Despite this, Warner Bros. remains optimistic that Mickey 17 can be a major box office success.
An additional reason for the delay of Mickey 17 is to give Pattinson the opportunity to promote the film without clashing with other projects in his busy schedule. The studio plans to release a final trailer before the film’s release date in an effort to generate excitement for the movie.
However, Mickey 17 faces significant financial pressure, as its star-studded cast and ambitious space adventure could lead to major losses if the film doesn’t resonate with audiences.
The movie follows Mickey (Pattinson), an “expendable” who is sent to colonize a dangerous ice planet. Each time Mickey dies, he is reincarnated and continues his mission, making for a high-stakes adventure. Mickey 17 is set to hit theaters on March 7.
