The Writer Details the Numerous Wild Twists of the New Science Fiction Film

The film screenwriter the writer has a hazy memory of what transpires in Save the Green Planet!. That’s a bit of a surprise, considering he wrote the script for Yorgos Lanthimos’s new reimagining of the 2003 Korean dark sci-fi comedy. Rather than studying the source material for ideas, the writer behind his previous work watched the film a single time, jotted down some thoughts, and began writing.

“I’ve only seen Save the Green Planet the one time,” Tracy states. “I couldn't clearly recall the film all that well. I didn't want to feel as though I had to be slavishly following or recreating 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 emotionally troubled man (the actor in the new version) who kidnaps a pharmaceutical executive he’s certain is an alien in disguise is mostly the same in both films, the differences are notable. Firstly, Tracy rewrote the lead role, originally male in the director's first version, as a woman. (The director chose his regular partner the actress in the part.) The conclusions differ slightly as well, in the way they tackle their shared core mystery: Is this person an alien in disguise or not really?

Tracy feels that resolution is a bit irrelevant.

“I never was really focused on the twist aspect,” he says. “My intention wasn't for the movie to just be a toy that does a single trick, and then after the reveal, it's like: Alright, so what's next?”

However, Tracy has a lot to say on the topic. The interview with the screenwriter touched on Bugonia’s finale and its implications, along with the methods he and the director collaborated to bring those twists to life.

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

Therefore, is Emma Stone an alien or not?

In brief: Absolutely.

Similar to in Save the Green Planet, the conclusion of Bugonia discloses that the CEO, a big pharma CEO named her character, is actually a royal extraterrestrial in disguise. After tricking her kidnapper Teddy (the actor) into killing himself using her advanced device, Fuller transports to her alien vessel.

The fact that this is unexpected is a testament to her performance. During the 118-minute film, she keeps audiences guessing through a layered portrayal that may require multiple viewings to comprehend entirely.

“Emma frequently discussed how it was the first time she had to give a performance where she felt she had to be conscious of people viewing it again. How those rewatching are going to think,” the writer says. "She was aware the second time someone sees this movie, They know that I know that I'm… you know?”

Tracy trails off, before adding, “Thus, her performance needed to reflect of that in her performance.”

Designing the Andromedons and their spaceship

Once Stone’s character ultimately shows her true nature, we get a quick look of her ship and fellow aliens before the film concludes. Their ship has a unique design, which the writer reveals was intended to look like a sea creature while avoiding futuristic aesthetics.

“[The director] was really interested in almost like a jellyfish-inspired shape for the vessel, something quite organic,” he says.

The goal was for them to seem strangely somewhat tribal or ancient.

The Andromedons’ clothing is equally fascinating as their ship: bulbous robes made from thick, woven cords. Once more, the goal was to defy conventional science fiction.

“For the costumes, rather than being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel strangely kind of tribal or primitive, and yet also highly decorative and not primitive, because it's such an intricate and elegant creation on those strange knit costumes,” the writer states. He adds that Lanthimos “thought of it as being a very ancient civilization. He disliked the idea of anything being sleek and silver, or a hyper-futuristic look.”

The conclusion of the Earth (or just humankind)

Perhaps the biggest difference between Bugonia and Save the Green Planet is that in the first version, the aliens react to their leader's kidnapping and abuse by blowing up the world. This adaptation adopts a slightly subtler approach, with its aliens opting to snuff out all mankind, while keeping the planet and its other inhabitants intact.

“What I wanted to achieve in the script was a depiction of the planet post-human existence,” Tracy says.

In the movie’s final moments, we see a series of shots of existence across the globe. Every person are deceased where they were standing just before, but the world continues. How viewers, are supposed to make of these events is up for debate. Does the conclusion of the film hopeful or bleak? Are people doomed or deserving of rescue? Would the world be better off in our absence?

The screenwriter does not wish to offer a clear resolution in any direction.

“Some people find it to be a very bleak conclusion, or a sad finale, a despairing ending,” he states. “Different audiences view it as being a oddly optimistic or positive conclusion. In my opinion there are various interpretations to understand it.”

Bugonia is in select cinemas at present, with a broader opening on Oct. 31.