Bong, Ruffalo on 'Mickey 17' antagonist: archetypal dictator, not based on real person

▲ "Mickey 17" director Bong Joon-ho speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Feb. 20, 2025. (Yonhap)

▲ Naomi Ackie (L), Mark Ruffalo (C) and Steven Yeun (R) pose for photos during a press conference for Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi black comedy "Mickey 17" in Seoul on Feb. 20, 2025. (Yonhap)

Mickey 17-press conference

Bong, Ruffalo on 'Mickey 17' antagonist: archetypal dictator, not based on real person

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- "Mickey 17" director Bong Joon-ho said Thursday that the film's antagonist was not inspired by any real-life figure, gently dismissing speculation that the character is a satirical portrayal of U.S. President Donald Trump.

"As the film portrays various political nightmares and depictions of dictators, viewers appear to project their own history onto them," Bong said at a press event promoting the upcoming sci-fi black comedy in Seoul.

To drive his point home, he shared an episode from the "Mickey 17" screening at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this month, where he was asked by an Italian journalist whether Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini influenced the creation of the character, Kenneth Marshall, played by Mark Ruffalo.

In addition, Bong praised Ruffalo for delivering "a compelling and universally resonant portrayal of his character by seamlessly blending various elements."

Ruffalo, visiting Korea for the first time since 2015, when he came for "Avengers: Age of Ultron," also stressed his character was not modeled after any specific person.

"He is an archetypal petty dictator. We've seen this kind of leader time and time again over the last century. They are all the same -- egotistical, fragile, self-centered and self-serving."

The actor added he intentionally incorporated elements from various figures, using accent shifts and speech variations to shape the character.

Marshall is the leader of a space colony expedition to the planet Niflheim. Alongside his red-capped, blindly loyal supporters and domineering wife who whispers orders into his ear, he seeks to establish his own kingdom by wiping out the indigenous creatures, the Creepers, and exploiting Mickey as an "expendable" worker for deadly and grueling missions.

Naomi Ackie, who plays Nasha, Mickey's steadfast supporter and compassionate girlfriend, shifted the focus to the heart of the film's narrative: the idea of "the ordinary being extraordinary."

"When it comes to Nasha and Mickey, there is something so charming about the fact that the bigger picture is almost too big for them to comprehend. What drives them is their connection and their day-to-day lives," she said.

"It's like, I love this person, I'm going to fight for this person and suddenly that can roll into a huge avalanche over time. I think that's what's really amazing about this story -- it celebrates the ordinary."

On another political note, Bong expressed belief that the Korean people had already moved past the political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration on Dec. 3.

"Our lives have continued uninterrupted. We had a well-attended film premiere. We have already overcome it," he said. "Now, only legal formalities remain."

"Mickey 17" is set for local release Feb. 28.

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