Key Points:
- Mickey 17’s ending sees the collapse of the expendable program and the destruction of the human printer, ensuring Mickey 17’s mortality.
- Kenneth Marshall’s genocidal plan fails, and the creepers’ threat is revealed to be a bluff used to protect their species.
- The dream sequence suggests Mickey’s paranoia about the cycle of exploitation continuing, symbolized by Marshall’s reappearance.
Mickey 17’s Ending Brings the Expendable Program to an End
Bong Joon-ho’s latest sci-fi epic, Mickey 17, presents a thought-provoking exploration of identity, exploitation, and survival. The film follows Mickey Barnes (played by Robert Pattinson), an “expendable” worker cloned each time he dies. However, his existence is threatened when Mickey 18 is printed before his death, causing chaos within the human colony on Nilfheim.
As the story unfolds, Mickey 18 becomes radicalized and attempts to assassinate Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo), the colony leader who seeks to exterminate Nilfheim’s native species, the creepers. The film’s climax sees Mickey 18 sacrificing himself by detonating a bomb, killing Marshall and ending his oppressive rule. With Marshall gone, Nasha (Naomi Ackie) rises to power and pushes for the abolition of the expendable program. In a symbolic act, Mickey 17 destroys the last human printer, making him the final expendable, ensuring his mortality.
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The Creepers’ Threat Was a Bluff
The creepers play a crucial role in Mickey 17’s conflict, with Marshall using their existence to justify his genocidal plans. At one point, the creepers claim they can emit a frequency that would wipe out humanity if their stolen baby isn’t returned. However, after Marshall’s death, Mickey 17 learns the truth: the creepers lack the ability to execute this threat. Instead, they fabricated the claim to protect their species, using fear as a defense mechanism. This revelation reinforces the film’s commentary on colonialism and fear-driven politics.
Kenneth Marshall emerges as the film’s antagonist, embodying themes of power and authoritarian control. A former politician who lost an election on Earth, Marshall spearheaded the Nilfheim colonization project to establish a human-only society. His desire to eradicate the creepers is driven by his need for absolute control over the planet. However, his plans unravel when Mickey 18, seeing the cruelty of his rule, turns against him. In the final act, Mickey 18’s self-sacrifice ensures Marshall’s demise, leading to a new era for the colony under Nasha’s leadership.
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Mickey 17’s Dream Sequence & What It Means
The film’s most cryptic moment arrives in the dream sequence, where Mickey 17 envisions Ylfa (Tilda Swinton) preparing to reprint Marshall while offering Mickey a new sauce to taste. The unsettling imagery suggests Mickey’s deep-seated fear that the cycle of exploitation will continue, even if Marshall himself is gone. The red sauce, heavily implied to be blood, symbolizes the violence and suffering perpetuated by oppressive systems.
While the dream sequence is not literal, it underscores Mickey’s paranoia that another figure like Marshall could emerge, bringing another form of control and subjugation.
Does Mickey 17 Set Up a Sequel?
Mickey 17 is based on the novel Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton, which has a sequel, Antimatter Blues. Set two years later, the book follows Mickey as he searches for a hidden bomb on Nilfheim. Despite this, a sequel film remains unlikely, as Bong Joon-ho is not known for making follow-ups. However, if Mickey 17 proves to be a box office success, Warner Bros. could push for a continuation.
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