Bong Joon-Ho and all his Oscar babies

Things We Saw Today: More Epic Casting News For Bong Joon-Ho’s New Sci-Fi Film

I'm so ready!

At the start of the year, we got the news that one of Bong Joon-Ho’s next movies would include a man shrouded in mystery, Robert Pattison, and be based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 sci-fi thriller Mickey7. The story follows a man named Mickey’s 7th clone going out on an expedition on a barren ice planet and failing to return. It’s all good, though, because the colony has a cloning process to ensure workflow continues, thus begins Mickey8’s life, and the memories of the previous Mickey stay intact with the new life. When Mickey7 returns, however, he’s devastated to learn that he’s been replaced and knows if he finds out, it could mean death for both of them.

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Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Image: St. Martin's Press.
(St. Martin’s Press)

While we’re still not 100% sure if Pattison will portray Mickey, we do have more excellent casting news! Deadline reported British Grenadian actress Naomi Ackie of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and season two of End of the F***cking World is now attached to the project. Her biggest and possibly most high-profile role is coming later this year, as she’s portraying the late Whitney Houston in the biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, directed by Kasi Lemmons. Also attached to the Warner Bros. Discovery and Bong Joon-Ho project (but reportedly still in negotiations) are screen chameleon Toni Collette and everyone’s favorite Bruce Banner, Mark Ruffalo.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 18:  (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white)  Naomi Ackie attends the European premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" at Cineworld Leicester Square on December 18, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)
(Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)

Knowing the premise and the cast, it’s easy to try to line up who’s who in the story. However, we will just have to wait and see. Mickey7 inspired the movie, so it won’t necessarily be a direct adaptation. Reading the full book’s description and considering how many high-profile Bong Joon-Ho movies critique capitalism, all we know is that the theme of the plot (churning out labor) is sticking around.

(via Deadline, image: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Here are some other bits of news we saw today:

  • Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour gets an 80-page special with The Real Side Kicks of New Gotham on August 30. (via author Twitter)
  • The bird-watcher who almost died at the hands of “Central Park Karen” (Amy Cooper), Christian Cooper, gets a wholesome show with National Geographic where he treks the world and talks about birds. (via NPR)
  • Tree-punching alleged sexual abuser Madison Cawthorn vows a ‘Dark MAGA’ takeover after his embarrassing Republican primary loss. (via Daily Beast)
  • Married Christian Man, Ted Cruz of Texas, obsessively ponders how SNL’s Pete Davidson has attracted beautiful women in past and present relationships. (via Jezebel)
  • Matt Corman and Chris Ord teaming up to write Daredevil Disney+ series, and I’m so excited. (via Variety)
  • Rebecca Watson traces how racist, debunked papers from WW2-era American Nazis continue to be cited in books today and promoted by mainstream conservative voices. (via YouTube)

What did you see out there today?

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Alyssa Shotwell
(she/her) Award-winning artist and writer with professional experience and education in graphic design, art history, and museum studies. She began her career in journalism in October 2017 when she joined her student newspaper as the Online Editor. This resident of the yeeHaw land spends most of her time drawing, reading and playing the same handful of video games—even as the playtime on Steam reaches the quadruple digits. Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 & Oxygen Not Included.