Director Bong Joon-ho denied any connection between the villain in 'Mickey 17' and U.S. President Donald Trump, saying, 'I am not that petty.'
According to the film industry on the 13th, Director Bong spoke during a talk at the BFI Southbank cinema in London on the 12th (local time) ahead of the release of his new film 'Mickey 17.' When asked if the portrayal of a dictator character as the antagonist in the film was a reaction to criticism regarding his Academy Award wins, he responded as such.
'Mickey 17' is Bong's new film that tells the story of a cloned human sent to explore an ice-covered planet. With its domestic release set for the 28th, some have interpreted that the dictatorial leader character, Kenneth Marshall, who confronts the protagonist Mickey, evokes thoughts of President Trump.
President Trump publicly expressed his displeasure several times in 2020 when Bong's film 'Parasite' won Best Picture, Best Director, and other awards at the Academy Awards, questioning, 'Why are we giving Academy Awards to a Korean film when we have trade issues with Korea?'
Director Bong noted, 'We filmed near London in 2022, but there is a scene similar to something that happened in 2024,' adding, 'There was no intention at all, but when Mark Ruffalo saw the completed film, he was fascinated and asked, 'Did we do something prophetic?'