In a move that will delight sci-fi fans and Bong Joon Ho devotees, Warner Bros. has announced that the director’s highly anticipated new film “Mickey 17” is shifting to a new release date of April 18, 2025. Robert Pattinson, in the lead role, had previously scheduled the film’s debut for January 31, 2025.
The studio spokesperson stated, “When the April 18 date became available, we quickly moved to secure it for Mickey 17. We’re thrilled with the new date and very happy the film will be available to audiences in IMAX.”
The decision to push back the release by a few months comes as Lionsgate announced it is delaying the debut of the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” from April 18, 2025, to October 3, 2025. This has created an opening in the lucrative IMAX theater market that Warner Bros. was eager to fill with Bong’s latest cinematic offering.
“Premium large-format screens, increasingly contributing to a film’s earnings, are in high demand,” the studio spokesperson explained. By shifting “Mickey 17” to the vacant April 18 date, the film will now have full access to IMAX theaters around the globe for its premiere.
In a related move, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have also adjusted the release of their horror film “Companion.” Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have now rescheduled the movie’s debut to January 31, 2025, which is three weeks later than its initial January 10 date. “We are very happy to have ‘Companion’ releasing on this new date, with January 31 now available with a full IMAX footprint,” the spokesperson added.
“Mickey 17” tells the story of an “expendable” employee named Mickey Barnes, who embarks on perilous missions to colonize an icy planet, drawing inspiration from Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel “Mickey 7”. The colony creates a duplicate of Mickey after his death, a system that preserves his memories and experience.
Expect director Bong Joon Ho to infuse the source material with his signature blend of dark humor, social commentary, and compelling character studies. The film’s impressive cast includes Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, alongside leading man Robert Pattinson.
“It’s based on the novel Mickey 7, but we made it Mickey 17,” Bong revealed at CinemaCon earlier this year. “The number is the number of times he dies. I kill him 10 times more. It’s the story of a simple man. It’s a sci-fi movie. It’s challenging to define sci-fi because it’s a human story.
Bong Joon Ho’s previous directorial effort, the critically acclaimed “Parasite,” won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and four Oscars, including Best Picture. The movie grossed over $262 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful foreign language films ever released in the US.
Fans of the director’s unique cinematic voice will no doubt be eagerly anticipating the arrival of “Mickey 17” in IMAX theaters on April 18, 2025. With its captivating premise, all-star cast, and Bong’s masterful storytelling, this sci-fi thriller is shaping up to be one of the most compelling big-screen experiences of the year.