‘Bugonia’ By Yorgos Lanthimos.
Yorgos Lanthimos has been very busy these last few years, his latest film ‘Kinds Of Kindness’ only hitting the Croisette at the Cannes Film festival a few months ago. And he’s already working on his new film ‘Bugonia’, a sci-fi comedy starring his regular collaborator Emma Stones and Jesse Plemons as the leads, Will Tracy (Succession, The Menu) is writing the screenplay. Emma and Jesse also starred together in ‘Kinds Of Kindness’. Element Pictures and Ari Aster’s Square Peg are producing the film, Focus Features bought the pic at Cannes and announced it will distribute it in the U.S., with Universal Pictures distributing the title internationally (excluding South Korea).
Bugonia is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film “Save The Green Planet!” by Jang Joon-Hwan, which was a huge hit on the international festival circuit and won two Korean Film Awards. Development for the remake began in 2020 with Will Tracy adapting the screenplay, and Jang attached to direct the remake. Ari Aster was signed on to produce and was instrumental in hiring Tracy and the decision to gender swap the central character from a man to woman.
Synopsis: Bugonia follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.
In February 2024, it was revealed that Yorgos Lanthimos would be directing the remake in place of Jang, with Element Pictures joining the production team. Emma Stone was in talks to star in the film, making this her fourth straight collaboration with the Greek director after “The Favourite”, “Poor Things” (for which she won the best actress Oscar) and “Kinds Of Kindness”. They also made a short film together named “Bleat”, but it was only shown in festivals with a live orchestra as intended by Lanthimos. In March, Jesse Plemons was attached to the film. the movie was officially retitled ‘Bugonia’ and was taken to the Cannes Film Market.
Bugonia sees Lanthimos leave his recent home of Searchlight Pictures. This one was a notable coup for Focus Features, given that Lanthimos’s previous Oscar-winning titles ‘The Favourite’ and ‘Poor Things’ as well as Cannes contender ‘Kinds Of Kindness’ were all handled by Searchlight for distribution.
Principal photography began in July 2024 in Wycombe, England, with additional scenes planned to film in New York as well. it was reported that Stones shaved her hair for the role.
Yorgos Lanthimos has been a visionary director, and has released some deeply uncomfortable but amazing films. he started his career collaborating with Efthymis Filippou, who wrote his movies including “Alps”, “Dogtooth”, “The Lobster” and “The Killing Of A Sacred Deer”. Then Yorgos started working with other people in Hollywood when he released “The Favourite” and “Poor Things”; both great films no doubt, but they were lacking that Filippou touch of uncomfortableness. And Yorgos might have also felt that, when he finally bought Filippou back to write his latest ‘Kinds Of Kindness’, the film did turn some heads when it premiered everywhere, and was not a straight praise film like “Poor Things”, which was a good sign. the fans were waiting for a Filippou Yorgos team-up.
Robbie Ryan is the cinematographer on Bugonia, he worked with Yorgos on Poor Things
Focus Features have set November 7, 2025 as the release date.
