“Mickey 17” is a 2025 science fiction black comedy film directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel “Mickey7”. Mickey Barnes, played by Robert Pattinson, is an “expendable” crew member who is sent to live on the frozen planet Niflheim. His body is regenerated with all of his past memories when he dies on a dangerous task. Things take a dramatic turn when Mickey survives a mission and returns to find that his replacement is already working. He has to fight for his identity and his life.
Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo are among the movie’s skilled actors who give the story more depth. Bong Joon-ho, who is known for movies like Parasite, makes Mickey 17 stand out in the sci-fi genre by combining dark humor with themes that make you think. In this article, we will explore where the movie was filmed and how these locations added to its visual appeal.
Where was Mickey 17 Filmed?
Mickey 17 was mostly filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in England, but they also shot some scenes in Surrey, England, to capture pretty landscapes. Let’s take a closer look at all the filming locations:
Surrey, England
A significant part of the Mickey 17 movie was filmed in Surrey, UK, a popular place for making movies. Director Bong Joon-ho loved the location and said, “The landscapes and facilities in Surrey gave us the perfect mix of realism and a sci-fi feel.” With its modern studios and beautiful countryside, Surrey was a great choice for bringing the film’s futuristic world to life.
Trivia: Surrey has been a popular filming location for major blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, making it a go-to destination for sci-fi and fantasy films.
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden
Much of the movie’s interior scenes were shot at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, England. This studio is famous for housing some of the biggest productions in Hollywood. Bong Joon-ho shared, “The versatility of Leavesden Studios allowed us to build intricate, immersive sets that brought the icy world of Niflheim to life.” The controlled environment provided the perfect setting for the high-tech elements of the film.
Trivia: This studio has hosted legendary films like The Dark Knight, Inception, and the Harry Potter series, making it a historic site for cinematic excellence.
When Did the Filming of ‘Mickey 17‘ Take Place?
Filming for Mickey 17 began on August 2, 2022, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, and concluded on December 5, 2022. It took a few months, and the actors and crew worked hard to turn Edward Ashton’s book into a movie.
Mickey 17 Plot Summary
Mickey 17, released in 2025, is a wild sci-fi movie directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7. It follows Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), an ordinary guy who signs up for a risky job: helping humans colonize the icy planet Niflheim. The catch? He’s an “expendable,” meaning he dies on dangerous missions, gets cloned, and comes back with most of his memories. By the time we meet him, he’s Mickey 17—yep, he’s died 16 times already! Each death is messy (think freezing, burning, or getting crushed), but he keeps going because it’s his job.
Things get crazy when a cloning glitch creates two Mickeys at once: Mickey 17 & Mickey 18. They’re supposed to be the same person but they’re not. Mickey 17 is tired and wants to live, while Mickey 18 is fresh and loyal to the mission. The colony’s rules say only one can exist, so they hide from the creepy leaders, Kenneth (Mark Ruffalo) and Ylfa Marshall (Toni Collette), who’d destroy them both. Kenneth is a loud, selfish politician with big plans to control Niflheim, and Ylfa pulls strings behind the scenes.
Mickey’s friend Timo (Steven Yeun), a pilot and his girlfriend Nasha (Naomi Ackie), a tough crew member, get caught up in the chaos. The two Mickeys team up to survive, dodging deadly creatures called creepers and the Marshalls’ schemes. Along the way, the movie digs into big questions: What makes someone human? Is it okay to treat people like tools? It’s funny, dark, and a little weird—classic Bong Joon-ho. In the end, the Mickeys fight for their right to live, shaking up the colony and leaving you wondering who’s really in charge.
Mickey 17 Cast Details
Here is the main cast of Mickey 17:
- Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, an expendable worker on Niflheim
- Naomi Ackie as Nasha Barridge, a security agent and Mickey’s love interest
- Steven Yeun as Timo, a pilot and Mickey’s childhood friend
- Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall, a politician leading the colonization mission
- Toni Collette as Ylfa, Marshall’s wife
- Holliday Grainger as Gemma
- Anamaria Vartolomei as Kai Katz
- Thomas Turgoose as Bazooka Soldier
- Angus Imrie as Shrimp Eyes
- Cameron Britton as Arkady, the head of the Science team
- Patsy Ferran as Dorothy
- Daniel Henshall as Preston, Marshall’s personal assistant
- Steve Park as Agent Zeke, the head of the Security team
- Tim Key as Pigeon Man
Behind the Scenes of Mickey 17
Making Mickey 17 was a big team effort with a great cast and crew, led by director Bong Joon-ho. Here’s a peek at how they did it:
Turning the Book into a Movie
Bong Joon-ho took Edward Ashton’s book Mickey7 and changed it up for Mickey 17. He wrote the script in 2021, using an early version of the book, and worked with writer Charles Yu to add more ideas. Bong added dark jokes and deep feelings to the story, which is how he likes to tell stories.
Casting and Characterization
Robert Pattinson was Bong Joon-ho’s original pick to play Mickey Barnes, a worker who can be cloned after death. He played both Mickey 17 and his clone, Mickey 18, making each version feel unique. To accomplish this, he altered his voice and improvised some lines, drawing inspiration from animated characters such as Ren and Stimpy. He also collaborated with Bong to revise parts of the script, including humor and modern language to make the dialogue more realistic.
The other actors were Naomi Ackie as Nasha, Mickey’s girlfriend and a security worker; Steven Yeun as Timo, Mickey’s old friend and a pilot; Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall, the bossy politician in charge; and Toni Collette as Ylfa, Kenneth’s wife. They all made the movie more exciting with their acting.
Filming the Movie
They started shooting on August 2, 2022, at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden and finished in December 2022. Bong planned every scene carefully with drawings first. The studio let them build cool sets to show the icy planet Niflheim.
Directorial Approach
Bong Joon-ho has a special way of directing. He lets actors try new things and come up with ideas on their own. Pattinson said Bong was “weird” but fun to work with, and it all turned out great even though it felt hard at first.
Post-Production and Visual Effects
After filming, the team focused on refining the film’s visual effects to make the frozen planet Niflheim appear realistic. They used cutting-edge technology to generate realistic settings and smooth cloning effects for the two versions of Mickey. Director Bong Joon-ho had full control over the final version of the film, making sure it matched his creative vision.
Mickey 17 Official Trailer
The team used the modern facilities at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden to bring the icy world of Niflheim to life. The chosen filming locations made the movie look more real and helped tell the story more believably.
Must Read: Where Was The Reluctant Royal Filmed? Stunning Locations & Behind-the-Scenes Stories
