Bong Joon-ho’s Animated Film: After taking the Oscars trophy home for his Best Picture-winning 2019 film “Parasite,” filmmaker Bong Joon-ho will mark his return to the sci-fi genre with his upcoming film “Mickey 17.” The upcoming project will mark Bong’s collaboration with the talented duo Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo.
Apart from this, the South Korean filmmaker has dived into a unique venture. Bong primarily directs films in the thriller and suspense genres, which often incorporate elements of social commentary and dark humor into his work. But this time, the filmmaker seems to be taking an entirely different route as he has been quietly crafting a new project in the animation realm. His upcoming animated project will explore the fascinating world of deep-sea life.
What does Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming animated project encompass?
As aforementioned, Bong Joon-ho is currently in his experimental era, as now the filmmaker will be helming an animated film. Though nothing much has been revealed about this project, the little details explored as of now are enough to ignite the excitement among the fans. Recently, Variety has unveiled some intriguing details about this mysterious film, revealing that it will be “hand-drawn,” a departure from the popular 3D format. Additionally, renowned German filmmaker Werner Herzog will lend his distinctive voice to the project.
Herzog is one of the most celebrated filmmakers, boasting a vast resume filled with incredible directorial features. While he is undeniably an incredible visionary, he is no stranger to acting roles in front of the camera either. In live-action, he had memorable roles in “The Mandalorian” and “Jack Reacher.” He even has experience in animation as he has lent his idiosyncratically solemn voice to popular shows like “The Simpsons” and “Rick & Morty.”
As for his upcoming collaboration with Bong, it’s unclear what he will exactly voice in his animated project. Since it is an underwater film, it can be assumed that Herzog may have voiced some animated underwater creature or that he could be a narrator.
Bong’s upcoming untitled film is loosely inspired by the visually stunning book “The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of The Abyss” by French author Claire Nouvian. The filmmaker previously predicted the movie could be ready between 2025 and 2026.
The official synopsis of The Deep reads:
“Combining the latest scientific discoveries with astonishing color imagery, The Deep takes readers on a voyage into the darkest realms of the ocean. Revealing nature’s oddest and most mesmerizing creatures in crystalline detail, The Deep features more than two hundred color photographs of terrifying sea monsters, living fossils, and ethereal bioluminescent creatures, some photographed here for the very first time. A companying these breathtaking photographs are contributions from some of the world’s most respected researchers that examine the biology of deep-sea organisms, the ecology of deep-sea habitats, and the history of deep-sea exploration.”
Bong Joon-ho’s animated film is being prepared, but his next film, “Mickey 17,” will be released on January 31, 2025.
