Robert Pattinson’s Dual Performance in ‘Mickey 17’ Promises a Game-Changing Role

Mickey 17 has unveiled new stills, offering a glimpse of Robert Pattinson’s most transformative performance yet.

Set to premiere in South Korea on February 28, ahead of its global release, Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated film Mickey 17 follows Mickey, an “expendable” worker assigned dangerous tasks. Whenever he dies, he is reprinted with his memories and biometric data intact. However, when Mickey 17 faces his 17th near-death situation, his crew assumes he is dead and prints Mickey 18, leading to an unpredictable turn of events.

The newly released characters still showcase both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, identical in appearance but distinguished by their respective number tags. As an expendable, Mickey is repeatedly sent on life-threatening missions and reprinted upon death, though such technology has already been outlawed on Earth. In humanity’s planetary colonization efforts, only one expendable is permitted per planet. If more than one is detected, the extras are permanently erased.

However, Mickey 18 was printed assuming that Mickey 17 had died, forcing the two identical versions of Mickey into a precarious coexistence. The stills, featuring both characters in the same frame, raise intrigue about their fate and how they will navigate their dilemma. Given that Mickey’s dual existence is central to the plot, audiences are also curious about how Robert Pattinson filmed scenes where he played both roles simultaneously.

Robert Pattinson takes on a striking transformation, portraying both the timid and apologetic Mickey 17, who passively accepts his inevitable death as part of his job, and the rebellious, headstrong Mickey 18. Known to South Korean audiences for his dashing roles in blockbusters like The Batman, Tenet, the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn series, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Pattinson has also demonstrated his versatility in independent films such as Good Time, High Life, and The Lighthouse, embodying deeply complex and often flawed characters.

With Mickey 17, Pattinson is set to prove his acting prowess further. Describing his character, he explained, “Mickey is a hero who doesn’t realize he is a hero. It’s really interesting to have a character like this.” To perfect his portrayal of both characters, he experimented with different vocal tones, applied special prosthetics to his teeth and cheeks, and meticulously studied each character’s unique gait. Given his extensive preparation, audiences eagerly anticipate his most transformative performance yet.

Mickey 17 will premiere first in South Korea on February 28.