As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours watching films from all around the world, I can confidently say that Bong Joon-ho’s latest project, “Mickey 17,” is not a mere Moon rip-off. While it’s true that the director might have been inspired by a wide range of sources, including Duncan Jones’ underrated gem, “Moon.” However, what sets “Mickey 17” apart is its unique blend of drama, comedy, and an expansive budget that dwarfs Moon’s production costs.
Five years following his world-shaking achievement, Bong Joon-ho is poised to unveil another grand masterwork titled Mickey 17. The brand new trailer for the 2025 Warner Bros. production hints at a revolutionary science fiction adventure. Yet, some diehard sci-fi enthusiasts might find the narrative reminiscent of earlier, more low-key explorations in the genre.
As I read Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7 in 2022, it felt like stepping into a world where I, the gamer, was the protagonist – an expendable space worker, repeatedly cloned and resurrected after each demise, retaining most of my memories. It struck me that this core narrative shares striking similarities with the 2009 sci-fi drama Moon, starring Sam Rockwell. In both stories, it seems the plot itself is a clone, reflecting the themes of identity and survival.
What Happens in the Sci-Fi Movie Moon (2009)?
The movie under discussion is a British production titled “Moon“, which served as the directorial introduction for Duncan Jones. After this, he directed “Source Code” in 2011 and a sequel to “Moon“, titled “Mute“, in 2018. The screenplay was crafted with Sam Rockwell’s character, Sam Bell, in mind, for whom the story unfolds. As anticipated, the narrative takes place on the moon’s far side where Sam resides and works alone to finish a three-year agreement at a lunar mining facility. However, he discovers that he isn’t the only one when he comes across another man who bears an uncanny resemblance to him.
Sam’s finding grows increasingly disturbing when he learns that he is one of many clones produced by the company he is employed at. The twist being, each new clone inherits most of his previous memories, yet their “bodies” are discarded after they perish on perilous tasks assigned by the employer. Warner Bros. has announced the release date for Mickey 17 as January 28, 2025. Given the official synopsis and the source material, it’s reasonable to speculate that the film shares a resemblance with Moon.
How is Moon similar to Mickey 17?
Instead of labeling the two sci-fi films as identical, it’s more accurate to acknowledge their striking similarities. Both stories revolve around workers who are expendable due to their numerous counterparts or clones. Interestingly, these replicants are consistently assigned hazardous tasks. In the film Moon, the main character portrayed by Rockwell grapples with feelings of loneliness and an identity crisis when he encounters his clone, a struggle that could resonate with Robert Pattinson’s character in Mickey 17.
Beyond just the common theme of clones living together in space, there are intriguing thematic connections as well. The movie Moon criticizes how corporations often view their employees as interchangeable and disregard human life. Similarly, Mickey 17 is expected to address this issue too, not only because of the plot similarities. Capitalism and social inequality are frequent themes in Bong Joon-ho’s work, such as Snowpiercer and Okja. Given these recurring themes and the opportunity to express his beliefs, it’s unlikely that director Bong Joon-ho would let go of this chance to stand by what he values.
Differences Between Moon and Mickey 17
| Film | Mickey 17 |
|---|---|
| Director | Bong Joon-ho |
| Release Date | January 28, 2025 (South Korea) |
| Primary Cast | Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo |
| Based on | Mickey7 by Edward Ashton |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
As a passionate fan, it seems to me that some elements in “Mickey 7” might bear a resemblance to the 2009 film “Moon”. Given that “Mickey 7” was published only recently in 2022, over a decade has passed since the release of “Moon”, which was a low-budget sci-fi gem. It’s important to note that this isn’t like the cases of “Star Wars” and “Dune”, where the former was inspired by an older sci-fi novel. Renowned director Bong Joon-ho is known for his daily movie watch, so it’s possible he may have seen “Moon”. However, I believe we should give “Mickey 7” the benefit of the doubt as it might be influenced by various creative sources.
A remarkable storytelling often lies in how a tale is presented, rather than its content. The latest trailer for “Mickey 17” showcases this perfectly. This director has a knack for seamlessly transitioning between intense dramatic scenes and lighthearted tension, which sets his movie apart from its 2009 counterpart. With Robert Pattinson’s spot-on accent, a strong ensemble cast, and the quirky dystopian backdrop of the Niflheim Expedition, “Mickey 17” promises a unique blend of style and atmosphere. Furthermore, its $150 million budget significantly overshadows “Moon’s” $5 million, making a direct comparison between the two films somewhat unjust.
Currently, there’s no need for fans to search for similarities between the stories of Mickey 17 and Moon. While both share a character name, Mickey 17 could potentially surpass its title by introducing more than seventeen distinct Mickeys. Contrary to Moon, which revolves around two characters named Sam, Mickey 17 appears to be venturing beyond its title and the original novel, as confirmed by author Edward Ashton in an interview with Nerdist.
Essentially, Director Bong is planning to drastically reduce the content from the original 350-page book for his screenplay, as he indicated during our conversation: “The book you’ve got is 350 pages long. I’m going to write a script that will be only 120 pages. A substantial amount will be left out.
Remarkably, the acclaimed film director managed to obtain the rights for the Mickey7 novel prior to its release, much in the manner Steven Spielberg claimed the Jurassic Park novels by Michael Crichton. It’s speculated that Bong will acknowledge space classics like Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) with Mickey7, interestingly, since the very film that inspired Moon also draws inspiration from this upcoming work.
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2024-09-28 23:04