Seoul: "Mickey 17" director Bong Joon-ho addressed speculations regarding the film's antagonist, asserting that the character was not inspired by real-life figures, specifically dismissing any connections to U.S. President Donald Trump. Bong explained that the film's portrayal of political nightmares leads viewers to project their own historical contexts onto the characters.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Bong recounted an incident from the Berlin International Film Festival, where an Italian journalist questioned whether the character Kenneth Marshall, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, was influenced by Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Bong clarified that the character is an archetypal dictator, not modeled after any specific individual. He praised Ruffalo's portrayal, noting how the actor skillfully blended various elements to deliver a universally resonant performance.
Ruffalo, visiting Korea for the first time since promoting "Avengers: Age of Ultron" in 2015, emphasized that his character is not based on any particular person. He described Marshall as an archetypal petty dictator, a figure seen repeatedly throughout history, characterized by being egotistical, fragile, self-centered, and self-serving. Ruffalo incorporated accent shifts and speech variations to shape the character, drawing from various influences.
Marshall leads a space colony expedition to the planet Niflheim, aided by red-capped loyal supporters and a domineering wife. His objective is to establish a kingdom by eradicating the indigenous Creepers and exploiting Mickey for hazardous missions. Naomi Ackie, who plays Nasha, Mickey's girlfriend, highlighted the film's core theme of "the ordinary being extraordinary." She emphasized the significance of personal connections and daily life in driving the narrative.
Bong also touched on a separate political matter, expressing confidence that Koreans had moved beyond the political unrest following President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration on December 3. He noted that life continued without interruption, evidenced by the well-attended film premiere, indicating that only legal procedures remained to be addressed.