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Bugonia (film)

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Bugonia
Teaser poster
Directed byYorgos Lanthimos
Screenplay byWill Tracy
Based onSave the Green Planet!
by Jang Joon-hwan
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRobbie Ryan
Edited byYorgos Mavropsaridis
Music byJerskin Fendrix
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • August 28, 2025 (2025-08-28) (Venice)
  • October 24, 2025 (2025-10-24) (United States)
Running time
117 minutes
Countries
  • Ireland
  • South Korea
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Bugonia is an upcoming science fiction black comedy film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos from a screenplay by Will Tracy. It is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan. It stars Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias and Alicia Silverstone. A co-production of Ireland, South Korea, the United States, the film focuses on two young men (Plemons and Delbis) who kidnap a powerful CEO (Stone), suspecting that she is secretly an alien who wants to destroy Earth.

Development on the film began as early as 2020, with Jang attached to direct and Tracy adapting the screenplay. Ari Aster came on board as producer soon after, and by February 2024, Lanthimos was hired to direct, replacing Jang, while Stone joined the project both as an actress and producer. Plemons joined the cast that May, and it was soon acquired by Focus Features for distribution at the Cannes Film Festival. Principal photography began in July in High Wycombe, England, and during which time, the rest of the cast was announced. Additional filming took place in May 2025 in Milos, Greece.

The film will have its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2025, and will be theatrically released in the United States by Focus Features on October 24, 2025.

Synopsis

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Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.[1][2]

Cast

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Production

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Development of an English-language remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan began in 2020 with Will Tracy adapting the screenplay, and Jang attached to direct the remake.[3] Ari Aster was signed on to produce and was instrumental in the hiring of Tracy and the decision to gender swap the central character from a man to a woman.[4]

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.[5] Emma Stone was also in talks to star in the film, making it her fifth collaboration with Lanthimos.[6] Jesse Plemons officially joined the cast by the time it was retitled Bugonia and taken to the Cannes Film Market in May.[7][8] In October, Alicia Silverstone joined the cast.[9] In May 2025, it was revealed that Aidan Delbis and Stavros Halkias were members of the cast as well.[10]

Filming

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Principal photography began in July 2024 in High Wycombe, England.[11] Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan shot the project on 35mm film with VistaVision cameras, marking his fourth collaboration with Lanthimos.[12][13] The director wanted the ending scenes of Bugonia to be filmed in the Acropolis of Athens, but the Central Archaeological Council of Greece rejected his request. The Sarakiniko Beach in the Greek island of Milos was chosen as the alternative location, with filming taking place in May 2025.[14]

Analysis

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Title

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"Bugonia" is a Greek word, spelled "bougonia", that refers to an ancient Mediterranean ritual or belief that bees spontaneously generate from the carcasses of dead animals, particularly oxen. Although it is possible that the ritual had more currency as a poetic form to tell where do bees originate from and learned trope than as an actual practice.

It's rooted in the Greek words "βοῦς" (ox) and "γονή" (progeny), literally meaning "ox birth". This concept is related to the idea of spontaneous generation, which was a common, though now scientifically disproved, belief about how life arose. The belief in bugonia was a literary trope in ancient times, with authors like Virgil referencing it in his works. While it wasn't necessarily a widespread practice, it was a popular idea that bees could be "born" from the decaying flesh of animals. In essence, bugonia represents a now-discredited notion about the origin of bees and is connected to the broader concept of spontaneous generation.

Release

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Focus Features acquired worldwide rights outside South Korea, which CJ ENM retained, to the project at the Marché du Film in May 2024, with its parent Universal Pictures handling international distribution on its behalf.[7] The film will premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2025,[15] and is scheduled for a limited release in the United States on October 24, 2025, before a wide release on October 31.[16][17] It was previously scheduled to release on November 7, 2025.[18]

Reception

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Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice International Film Festival September 6, 2025 Golden Lion Yorgos Lanthimos Pending [19]

References

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  1. ^ "Focus Features Lands Yorgos Lanthimos' Next Film, Bugonia, Starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons". www.focusfeatures.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  2. ^ D'Alessandro, Diana Lodderhose,Anthony (May 18, 2024). "Focus Features Takes Worldwide Rights To Yorgos Lanthimos' Next Movie 'Bugonia' With Emma Stone & Jesse Plemons – Cannes". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (May 7, 2020). "Korean Cult Hit Save the Green Planet! Set for Remake from CJ Entertainment, Ari Aster's Square Peg". The Hollywood Reporter. Valence Media. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  4. ^ "Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia': How 'Parasite' and 'Squid Game' Success Led the Auteur to Remake Korean Sci-Fi 'Save the Green Planet'". July 19, 2024. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Keslassy, Elsa; Frater, Patrick (February 19, 2024). "Yorgos Lanthimos Sets Remake of Korean Fantasy Film Save the Green Planet with Poor Things Producer Element Pictures (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  6. ^ Keslassy, Elsa; Frater, Patrick (February 20, 2024). "Emma Stone in Talks to Star in Yorgos Lanthimos' Save the Green Planet Remake (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Lodderhose, Diana; D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 18, 2024). "Focus Features Takes Worldwide Rights To Yorgos Lanthimos' Next Movie Bugonia With Emma Stone & Jesse Plemons – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Park, Soomee (October 4, 2024). "'Bugonia': How Ari Aster, 'Succession' Writer Will Tracy and Yorgos Lanthimos Came Together to Remake a Korean Sci-Fi Classic". The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. ^ Jackson, Angelique (October 17, 2024). "Alicia Silverstone Joins Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons in Yorgos Lanthimos' Alien Conspiracy Movie 'Bugonia' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  10. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 1, 2025). "Emma Stone & Jesse Plemons Movie 'Bugonia' From Yorgos Lanthimos Sets Fall Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  11. ^ Calnan, Ellie (July 18, 2024). "Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia with Emma Stone begins production in UK". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Media Business Insight. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Desowitz, Bill (March 12, 2025). "20 Movies Shot on Film in 2025: Separate Safdie Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, and More". IndieWire. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  13. ^ Pennington, Adam (February 23, 2025). "Taking Stock — Shooting on Film". Definition Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  14. ^ "Γιώργος Λάνθιμος: Το ελληνικό νησί όπου γυρίστηκε το φινάλε της νέας του ταινίας, μετά το «όχι» για την Ακρόπολη". iefimerida.gr (in Greek). May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "Venice Film Festival Screening Date". Objectif Festival. July 27, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  16. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 1, 2025). "Emma Stone & Jesse Plemons Movie 'Bugonia' From Yorgos Lanthimos Sets Fall Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  17. ^ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | Bugonia". La Biennale di Venezia. July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  18. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 25, 2024). "Focus Features Sets Fall 2025 Release For Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone & Jesse Plemons Reteam 'Bugonia'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | Bugonia". La Biennale di Venezia. July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
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