The following contains spoilers for Mickey 17, now playing in theatersMickey 17’smain antagonist, Kenneth Marshall, is very reminiscent of United States President Donald Trump, which helps highlight one why the character works as Bong Joon Ho’s best villain so far.Mickey 17is largely focused on the titular Mickey, an unfortunate worker bee in an intended space colony who is frequently killed and then cloned anew in the name of progress.Mickey’s various deathsand the conflict that arises when there are two versions of him at once are justMickey 17’s surface-level story, as the thematic strength of the film is in its satirical riff on society.
At the core of this criticism of politicians and the class politics is Kenneth Marshall, who has maintained a level of popularity and cult-like devotion within his followers even while forcing them to endure frequently dangerous conditions on a distant planet. Marshall is a fairly broad character in design, someone that Joon Ho wanted to use as a universal parody of bad actors in political positions of power. However, there are some elements of the character that make it hard not to see Marshall as a direct riff on Trump, which plays into the thematic power ofMickey 17’s explosive ending.
Mickey 17’s Villain Is Not Meant To Be A Donald Trump Parody
Marshall Was Meant To Be A Riff On Many World Leaders, Not Just Trump
Mickey 17’s Kenneth Marshall might not have meant to be a parody of Donald Trump, butthe similarities between the character and the real-life politician make the satirical aspects of the villain all the more effective. As reported byScreen Rant, Bong Joon Ho wasn’t directly inspired by Donald Trump when writing the script toMickey 17. Instead, Marshall was modeled after a “mix of many different politicians.” Joon Ho’s intention was to create a character that would allow audiences from various nations to project their own leaders onto Marshall, highlighting the flaws that can be found in leaders around the world.
Is Mark Ruffalo’s Mickey 17 Villain Based On Any Dictator? Director Weighs In On The Character Inspiration
Bong Joon Ho explains how Mark Ruffalo’s character in Mickey 17 was not based on one specific dictator, but rather multiple inspirations.
This explains why the character of Marshall is a fairly broad parodyinstead of being too specific of a satirical character. While the image-obsessed leader does rely on television appearances to endear himself to the public (similar to how Donald Trump was widely known as a media personality before making the shift into politics), Marshall is also shown wearing the kind of military dress uniform that infamous world leaders used to try and make themselves appear intimidating and imposing. Marshall’s volatile nature and telegraphed efforts to make himself seem impressive are reminiscent of countless politicians, making him a universal character.
Mark Ruffalo’s Performance Turns Kenneth Marshall Into A Donald Trump Parody
Ruffalo Gives Marshall A Lot Of Trumpian Touches
Mark Ruffalo’s performance inMickey 17is where the comparison between Marshall and Trump feels more accurate. Ruffalo plays Marshall as a broad character, but there are aspects of the performance that feel reminiscent of Trump’s public persona. Ruffalo adds a stilted touch to the character’s dialogue and a habit of talking with his hands, delivering dialogue in a unique cadence that feels similar to the way that Trump speaks in public. The leader’s obsession with maintaining control of any narrative through massaged news footage and TV shows is reminiscent of the ways Trump uses the media to his advantage.
Marshall is established as having lost his most recent election when he makes the move to space, something that Ruffalo leans into for comedic effect that feels reminiscent of Trump refusing to admit his loss in the 2020 election. Even his efforts to look impressive are undercut by failures, recalling the publicity events for Donald Trump that have been ridiculed by certain corners of the public for their failed efforts to make the President look more impressive.Given Ruffalo’s status as an American and his overt criticism of Trump in the past, this seems to have been a purposeful decision.
Mark Ruffalo’s Mickey 17 Character Is Bong Joon Ho’s Most Pointed Political Takedown Yet
Bong Joon Ho Has Always Been Focused On Societal Satire
Marshall follows a major trend in Bong Joon Ho films, which typically depict the wealthy and the politicians who work with them as the main antagonists of their respective stories.The HostandOkjamay have monstrous frogs in Seoul or genetically modified pigs, but the actual antagonists of those films are governments covering up their mistakes or the companies manipulating science for profit. The villains ofSnowpiercerare the upper class who have thrived while the lower classes work themselves to death, a clear take-down on governments thatshares an overall thematic view of those in power withMickey 17.
WhileParasitebenefited from a very specific perspective, Marshall being a broader parody of world leaders givesMickey 17a more broadly appealing satirical element…
Mickey 17keeps that focus largely on Marshall and his wife, with his followers relegated to background roles as opposed toSnowpiercer’s larger cast of adherents to the train’s way of life.The Marshalls' disgust with Mickey and other low-class citizens is reminiscent of howParasiteshows the upper class can treat the lower classes as sub-humans, setting up their own downfall. WhileParasitebenefited from a very specific perspective, Marshall being a broader parody of world leaders givesMickey 17a more broadly appealing satirical element, poking fun at any number of world leaders from across history and beyond.
Kenneth Marshall Works Best When He Feels Like A Specific Parody
Image via Warner Bros.
Kenneth Marshall feels like a fusion of Donald Trump and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, turning potentially optimistic expansion and societal change into an excuse to honor and raise up a single man as a leader and prophet. Marshall’s cruel treatment of the lower class is celebrated by his many followers, some of whom wear red hats in support of his efforts. This is reminiscent of the way Trump’s MAGA movement celebrates his efforts, even as he garners widespread controversy and condemnation for his actions taken towards disenfranchised communities like immigrants.
As reported byDeadline, Mark Ruffalo didn’t necessarily play Marshall as a direct riff on Donald Trump, but has joked that he “underplayed” the archetype of a petty tyrant in light of Donald Trump’s reelection as President of the United States.
With Donald Trump in the White House during the release ofMickey 17,the parallels between Marshall and Trump are impossible to avoid. The film could be seen as a warning of the kind of world where those kinds of leaders get free rein over the lives of others, showcasing how poorly it goes for the masses until the people the government has been abusing rise up in defiance. Ultimately,Mickey 17is intended as a morality tale about someone finally seeing themselves as worthwhile by fighting back against the system that had used their previous deaths for their gain.
Marshall is an important part of that moral message at the core ofMickey 17. By making him a broad character, Joon Ho allows Marshall to satirize more than just a single world leader. However, there’s something to be said for how thoroughly Ruffalo’s performance evokes Donald Trump, given his important role as the current President of the United States. It’s a continuation of Bong Joon Ho’s societal focus in his films and givesMickey 17a clearer connection to modern-day politics, even while remaining inherently adaptable to the current moment.
