Bong Joon Ho Would Like To Direct Alien, BUT As A Musical (AP)
Five years ago, Bong Joon Ho made history when Parasite became the first non-English-language film to win the coveted Best Picture Oscar. The darkly satirical thriller, which tackled themes of class struggle and deception, also earned Bong Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature.
During his acceptance speech, Bong famously joked about drinking into the early hours, and backstage, he playfully made his trophies kiss like action figures. With Hollywood at his feet, many expected him to take the traditional route — joining blockbuster franchises like Star Wars or James Bond — but Bong had other plans.
Bong revealed that while he was never drawn to franchise films, he did once entertain the idea of directing an Alien movie (AP)
In a recent interview with Collider, Bong revealed that while he was never drawn to franchise films, he did once entertain the idea of directing an Alien movie. “I’m not drawn to franchise films, but I did think at one point that I would like to do an ‘Alien’ film,” he admitted. Then, with his trademark dry wit, he added, “An ‘Alien’ musical.”
Though he didn’t end up directing Alien, Bong’s unique vision found its way into Mickey 17, a new sci-fi film. The film, starring Robert Pattinson, is set aboard a spaceship bound for a distant icy planet. Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, a low-ranking crew member who repeatedly dies on the dangerous mission only to be “reprinted” each time, with his memories intact. The film is a darkly comedic and existential exploration of class, power, and exploitation, a reflection of Bong’s signature themes, though set in an entirely different genre.
For Bong, the film’s genre-bending nature is intentional. While Mickey 17 takes place on another planet, he says the story is a commentary on the present rather than an imagined future. “It seems to be a story about the future, about another planet, but it’s actually a portrait of us now and the reality around us, not of somewhere far out in space,” Bong explains.
Despite his Parasite success, which earned a massive $258 million at the global box office, Bong hasn’t let fame alter his approach to filmmaking. “It was such an honour to win the awards — it was also quite surprising, because I had never really gone through something like that before,” he recalls. “But in terms of how I work, nothing really changed. I didn’t take any time off afterward. I just kept on working.”
Instead of opting for the safety of a traditional Hollywood blockbuster, Bong took a risk with Mickey 17, a $115-million production that blends absurdist comedy with existential themes. The film is a bold move for both Bong and Warner Bros., who are backing this original sci-fi venture at a time when genre films of this kind are becoming increasingly rare.
Soumyabrata Gupta author
An avid foodie who does not discriminate in what he eats — films, books, music and art are also things that make me tick. In love with all animals gr…View More
