Following his Oscar triumph for Parasite in 2020, filmmaker Bong Joon Ho took nearly two years to find his next project, and he appears to have found one, and he's bringing a certain Caped Crusader along for the ride. Bong is in talks to develop and direct an untitled Warner Bros. picture based on Edward Ashton's upcoming novel Mickey7, according to Deadline, and The Batman star Robert Pattinson is in talks to star. Bong will also produce the untitled picture with Dooho Choi for Kate Street Picture Firm and Plan B through his production company Offscreen.

St. Martin's Press, a Macmillan brand, will release the book in the first quarter of 2022. While the film will be based on the novel, sources indicate that, given Bong's previous experience with adaptations, his version may end up being different from the novel's. Mickey7 is an Expendable on a human expedition destined to inhabit the ice world Niflheim, according to the plot of the novel. When a mission becomes too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey for help. When one iteration dies, a new body is created with the majority of the iteration's memories intact. Mickey7 understands the conditions of his contract after six deaths...and why it was the only colonial post available when he accepted it. The studio is overseen by Peter Dodd.

Following Parasite's Oscar victory, which included Best Director and Best Picture, Bong has taken his time deciding what to do next. He was given the manuscript for the unpublished book by Ashton near the end of 2021, which piqued his curiosity right away. Late last year, the Oscar winner got loosely affiliated to the project and met with some of the city's most promising talents before the holiday break, as every A-lister in their 30s was vying for the part. Following his meeting, Bong and execs were so impressed with Pattinson that they felt he was the perfect fit for the part that an offer was made just before the new year.

Following an HBO limited series based on Parasite in the works, which Bong executive produces alongside Adam McKay, the Warner Bros film is Bong's second contract with WarnerMedia in recent months.

Pattinson's involvement in this project would be his first since wrapping production on the highly anticipated The Batman. Warner Bros. has already demonstrated its commitment to him by recently signing him to a first-look deal. The Batman will be released on March 4th.

WME represents both Bong and Pattinson. 3 Arts, Curtis Brown Group, and attorney Robert Offer represent Pattinson, while Jerome Duboz manages Bong.