The narrative amplifies this via the villain Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo), a hypocritical authoritarian leader blending political power, corporate control, and religious cult following with red-hat supporters and breeding policies, alongside his wife Ylfa (Toni Collette). Diverse casting includes Naomi Ackie as security agent and love interest Nasha (a Black actress in a prominent role who assumes leadership) and Steven Yeun as grifter friend Timo, though these are original adaptations rather than source swaps.

Bong stated in interviews the film explores human dignity, repeating societal mistakes, and class consciousness, with added political satire beyond the novel's focus on the human condition. Reception shows polarization, with audience critiques labeling it heavy-handed anti-authoritarian messaging and underperformance tied to perceived preachiness, while critics noted the satire's focus on economic disparity and colonization. These elements influence themes and character arcs noticeably but remain secondary to the core cloning premise and sci-fi comedy, without identity-politics centrality or source-material alterations for diversity.