Robert Pattinson had a surprise inspiration for his voice work in Bong Joon Ho's new movie Mickey 17: Ren and Stimpy – and his first idea was even stranger.
In the upcoming sci-fi film – based on Edward Ashton's novel Mickey7 – Pattinson plays Mickey, an 'expendable' who is 'reprinted' by his employer upon his death. However, a mix-up means Mickey 17 suddenly comes face to face with Mickey 18, with the former surviving a perilous trip to the world of Niflheim.
"It’s a little like Stimpy," Pattinson told Empire of his Mickey 17 voice. "When 18 comes in, it’s a little bit more like Ren."
Remarkably, that wasn't Pattinson's first choice for his distinctive Mickey 17 voice. Instead, that honor falls to a take on Jackass alumni Steve-O and Johnny Knoxville. Unfortunately for the actor, director Bong Joon Ho gave a crushing verdict.
"I love Steve-O’s voice. We did it on the first read-through," Pattinson said. "And Bong was like, 'That voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard.' I was like, 'Is that a good thing?' He was like, 'No.'"
The first trailer for Mickey 17 landed in September, with Pattinson's Mickey(s) being put through the wringer in the sci-fi thriller.
Mickey 17 is set to hit cinemas on January 31, 2025. The cast, led by Pattinson, also features Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie, and Toni Collette.
