Bong Joon-ho's 'Mickey 17' Delays Release...Now Aims for April Easter Holiday Next Year

The North American release date of director Bong Joon-ho's new film "Mickey 17" has once again been pushed back from January to April 18 next year. According to U.S. media outlets Variety and Deadline on Jan. 6 (local time), "Mickey 17," which was originally scheduled for release on Jan. 31, 2025, has been moved to April 18 and will target the Easter holiday special. With Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which was set to open on April 18, pushing back its release to October, Mickey 17 has secured that date and IMAX theaters.

"As soon as the April 18 release date became available, 'Mickey 17' quickly snatched it up," said a Warner Bros. spokesperson, "We are thrilled with the new release date and look forward to bringing it to audiences in IMAX." With April being a more favorable time for blockbuster releases than January, which is considered an off-season, officials are optimistic about the film's box office performance.

"Mickey 17" is director Bong Joon-ho's first foray into Hollywood and tells the story of "Mickey," a character who is cloned every time he dies and is repeatedly sent into dangerous jobs. The movie will tell a unique story through the chaos that ensues after Mickey (played by Robert Pattinson) dies and an 18th Mickey is cloned. In addition to Robert Pattinson, the movie is highly anticipated for its star-studded cast, which includes Mark Ruffalo from the Avengers franchise, Tony Collette from The Sixth Sense and Knives Out, and Korean-American actors Steven Yeun and Naomi Ackie.

The movie, which wrapped filming last year, was originally scheduled for a March 2023 release. However, the release date has been pushed back several times due to the Hollywood writers' strike and post-production issues. The trailers and posters released in the lead-up to the film's release have raised the anticipation of fans around the world, and interest in the movie continues to grow steadily.

Robert Pattinson said in an interview that "Mickey 17" is "a unique movie that's completely different from anything I've ever done," and that "it's going to be an incredible experience. Co-star Naomi Ackie also said she was "very impressed with the way Bong Joon-ho storyboarded the movie."

"Mickey 17" also made waves at this year's CinemaCon. Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson appeared on stage together and interacted with fans with big smiles, building anticipation for the movie. It will be interesting to see how Mickey 17 will be received when it hits theaters next year, just in time for the Easter holiday.