Bugonia's Screenwriter Discusses the Many Wild Turns of Emma Stone's New Sci-Fi Movie

Bugonia writer the writer doesn’t really remember what transpires in the original Korean movie. That’s a bit of a surprise, considering he crafted the screenplay for the director’s latest adaptation of the original 2003 film. Instead of poring over the source material for inspiration, the writer behind his previous work viewed the movie a single time, jotted down some thoughts, and started the process.

“I watched Save the Green Planet once,” Tracy says. “I didn’t really remember the movie all that well. I didn't want to feel like I had to be faithfully adapting or remaking or honoring someone else's vision. The most respectful approach to both films was to have them be judged separately.”

While the premise of a mentally unstable man (Jesse Plemons in Bugonia) who kidnaps a pharmaceutical executive he’s convinced is an extraterrestrial hiding on Earth is mostly the same in each movie, the differences are considerable. Firstly, Tracy re-envisioned the lead role, originally male in Jang Joon-hwan’s first version, as a woman. (Lanthimos chose his frequent collaborator Emma Stone in the part.) The conclusions vary a bit as well, in the way they address their shared core mystery: Is the character an alien in disguise or not really?

Tracy feels that resolution is a bit beside the point.

“I wasn't really focused on the twist aspect,” he says. “I didn't want the film to just be a toy that does one surprise, and then after the reveal, it's like: OK, well, what else does this toy do?”

However, he has a lot to say on the topic. The interview with the screenwriter touched on the film’s finale and its implications, along with the ways he and the director worked together to bring those twists to life.

Spoiler Alert: Full spoilers follow for the ending of Bugonia.

Therefore, is Emma Stone an alien or not an alien?

In brief: Absolutely.

Just like in the original film, the end of this version reveals that the CEO, a big pharma CEO named her character, is actually alien royalty in disguise. After tricking her kidnapper Teddy (Plemons) into killing himself using her advanced device, she beams back up to her alien vessel.

The fact that this comes as a surprise is a testament to Stone’s acting skills. Throughout the two-hour film, she maintains suspense through a complex performance that may require multiple viewings to comprehend entirely.

“Emma talked a lot about how it was the initial instance she had to act where she felt she had to be conscious of people watching the movie a second time. How those rewatching are going to think,” Tracy says. "She knew the second time a person watches this movie, They know that I know that I'm… you know?”

Tracy pauses, before adding, “Thus, her performance needed to reflect this awareness in her performance.”

Creating the aliens and their spaceship

Once Stone’s character finally does reveal her real identity, we get a brief glimpse of her ship and fellow aliens before Bugonia ends. Their ship has a unique design, which the writer shares was meant to look like a marine animal while steering clear of high-tech visuals.

“[The director] was really interested in almost like a jellyfish-type design for the spaceship, something quite organic,” Tracy comments.

The goal was for them to seem oddly somewhat primitive or ancient.

The aliens' attire is just as interesting as their ship: rounded robes made from thick, woven cords. Again, the aim was to defy conventional science fiction.

“For the costumes, instead of being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel strangely somewhat primitive or basic, and yet also highly decorative and sophisticated, because it's such an intricate and elegant creation on those unusual woven outfits,” the writer states. He adds that Lanthimos “thought of it as being a very ancient civilization. He disliked the idea of any element being sleek and silver, or a hyper-futuristic look.”

The end of the Earth (or only humanity)

Perhaps the biggest difference between the new film and Save the Green Planet is that in the original Korean movie, the aliens respond to their leader's kidnapping and abuse by destroying planet Earth. This adaptation takes a slightly subtler approach, with its beings opting to eliminate all mankind, while keeping the planet and its other inhabitants intact.

“My intention to do in the script was a vision of Earth post-human existence,” Tracy explains.

In the film's conclusion, we see a series of shots of existence across the globe. All humans lie dead where they were standing moments earlier, but the Earth keeps spinning. How viewers, are supposed to interpret these events is up for debate. Does the conclusion of Bugonia hopeful or pessimistic? Is humanity doomed or deserving of rescue? Would the world be improved without us?

Tracy does not wish to provide a definitive answer in any direction.

“Certain viewers find it to be a extremely dark ending, or a tragic ending, a hopeless ending,” he states. “Different audiences see it as being a strangely hopeful or positive ending. In my opinion there are various interpretations to read it.”

Bugonia is in limited theatrical release now, with a broader opening on Halloween.