For quite some time, Robert Pattinson has been embracing his peculiar phase. From 'Good Time' to 'High Life,' 'The Lighthouse,' and beyond, he has consistently enjoyed portraying quirky characters on the big screen. Even in 'The Batman,' he delved into an emo persona. Now, in Bong Joon Ho's 'Mickey 17,' he takes his penchant for eccentricity to new heights. Playing multiple iterations of the downtrodden Mickey—an 'expendable' who regenerates a new body upon death—he amplifies the unpredictability, sharing the screen with... himself. Due to an accident, Mickey 18 is created before Mickey 17's demise, leading to a perilous coexistence.
To distinguish between Mickeys 17 and 18, Pattinson had to find unique ways to differentiate them, including adopting distinct accents, inspired by an unexpected source. 'It's a bit like Stimpy,' he tells Empire about Mickey 17's vocal style, referencing the iconic '90s cartoon 'Ren & Stimpy.' 'When 18 arrives, it's a bit more like Ren.' With each new incarnation of Mickey, Pattinson envisions the character losing a bit of himself. 'I imagined him as a dog with complete self-worthlessness,' he explains. 'He just keeps showing up, reporting for duty. But I hope the reveal is that it's a mix of deep, misguided guilt and survival. He's just saying, 'I'll keep lowering my expectations.'
Interestingly, drawing from 'Ren & Stimpy' wasn't Pattinson's initial choice for his Mickey voices. 'My first idea was to mimic Steve-O and Johnny Knoxville [from 'Jackass'],' he laughs. 'I adore Steve-O's voice. We tried it during the first read-through. Bong's reaction was, 'That voice is like nails on a chalkboard.' I asked, 'Is that a good thing?' He replied, 'No.'
Don't attempt this at home.
Read Empire's comprehensive 'Mickey 17' feature—featuring interviews with Bong Joon Ho, Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, and Naomi Ackie about their eccentric sci-fi journey—in the December 2024 issue, available for purchase on Thursday, October 24. Pre-order your copy online here. 'Mickey 17' hits UK cinemas starting January 31.
