Bugonia's Writer Explains the Countless Surprising Twists of Emma Stone's New Sci-Fi Movie

Bugonia screenwriter Will Tracy has a hazy memory of what transpires in Save the Green Planet!. It's a little surprising, given that he wrote the screenplay for the director’s latest adaptation of the original 2003 film. Rather than studying the source material for inspiration, the writer behind his previous work viewed the film a single time, jotted down some thoughts, and began writing.

“I watched the original the one time,” Tracy says. “I couldn't clearly recall the movie all that well. My aim wasn't to feel as though I had to be slavishly following or remaking or paying tribute to someone else's vision. The most respectful approach to both films was to have them exist independently.”

While the basic plot of a emotionally troubled man (Jesse Plemons in the new version) who abducts a business leader he’s convinced is an alien in disguise is mostly the same in each movie, the differences are considerable. For one thing, the writer re-envisioned the executive character, originally male in the director's first version, as a female character. (Lanthimos chose his regular partner the actress in the part.) The conclusions vary a bit as well, in the way they tackle their central question: Is the character an extraterrestrial or not really?

The screenwriter believes that resolution is somewhat not the main focus.

“I never was really concerned with the twist aspect,” he comments. “My intention wasn't for the film to just be a toy that does a single trick, and then once it does that surprise, it's like: OK, well, what else does this toy do?”

Nevertheless, Tracy has plenty to discuss on the subject. 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.

Warning: Complete details follow for the ending of Bugonia.

So is Emma Stone an extraterrestrial or not an alien?

Short answer: Yes.

Similar to in the original film, the conclusion of Bugonia discloses that Stone’s character, a pharmaceutical executive named Michelle Fuller, is in fact alien royalty in hiding. Once she manipulates her captor the unstable man (Plemons) into ending his own life using her teleportation technology, she transports to her alien vessel.

The reality that this is unexpected is a testament to her performance. During the 118-minute film, she maintains suspense through a layered portrayal that may require several rewatches to comprehend entirely.

“She frequently discussed how it was the first time she had to give a performance where she felt she had to be aware of people viewing it again. What the repeat viewers are going to think,” Tracy says. "She was aware the upon a repeat viewing someone sees this film, They know that I know that I'm… you know?”

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

Creating the Andromedons and their vessel

After Stone’s character ultimately shows her true nature, we get a brief glimpse of her ship and fellow aliens before Bugonia ends. Their ship has a distinct appearance, which Tracy 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-inspired shape for the spaceship, something very natural,” he comments.

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

The aliens' clothing is just as interesting as their vessel: rounded dress-like garments made from thick, woven cords. Once more, the goal was to go against conventional science fiction.

“For the costumes, instead of being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel unusually kind of primitive or basic, and yet also quite ornate and sophisticated, because it's such an intricate and beautiful design on those unusual woven outfits,” the writer states. He notes that Lanthimos “thought of it as being a very ancient civilization. He wasn't into the idea of any element being sleek and silver, or a hyper-futuristic look.”

The conclusion of the Earth (or only humankind)

Perhaps the biggest difference between the new film and the original is that in the first version, the extraterrestrials react to their ruler's abduction and abuse by blowing up planet Earth. Bugonia adopts a slightly subtler approach, with its aliens choosing to eliminate all human life, while leaving the planet and its remaining creatures unharmed.

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

In the film's conclusion, we see a series of shots of life across the globe. All humans lie dead where they were standing just before, but the world continues. How viewers, are meant to make of these events is up for debate. Does the conclusion of Bugonia optimistic or pessimistic? Is humanity doomed or worth saving? Is the planet be improved without us?

The screenwriter isn’t willing to offer a definitive answer in any direction.

“Certain viewers find it to be a extremely dark ending, or a sad ending, a hopeless outcome,” he says. “Other people see it as being a oddly hopeful or happy conclusion. In my opinion there's different ways to read it.”

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