Focus Features has unveiled the new Emma Stone Bugonia trailer, offering a glimpse into the upcoming dark comedic sci-fi film starring the Academy Award-winning actress. This project reunites Stone with director Yorgos Lanthimos, following their collaborations on The Favourite (2018), Poor Things (2023), and the forthcoming Kinds of Kindness (2024).
The film is set to debut in select theaters from October 24, followed by a nationwide release on October 31. Bugonia is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet!, bringing an intense and unsettling narrative to a new audience.
Overview of Bugonia’s Premise and Production Details
The official synopsis describes the story as revolving around
“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.”
This plot sets the stage for a tense and darkly humorous exploration of paranoia and suspicion.
The film is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, with a screenplay by Will Tracy. Notably, Ari Aster, director of Midsommar, contributes as one of the producers. Alongside Emma Stone, the cast features Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Alicia Silverstone, Stavros Halkias, Vanessa Eng, Momma Cherri, Cedric Dumornay, and Parvinder Shergill. The producing team includes Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Lars Knudsen, Miky Lee, Jerry Kyoungboum Ko, Lanthimos himself, and Stone.
Produced by CJ ENM, the company behind Bong Joon-ho’s widely acclaimed Parasite, Bugonia carries significant creative backing. The original South Korean version, directed by Jang Joo-hwan and starring Shin Ha-kyun, was well-received domestically, earning accolades such as the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Busan Film Critics Awards during its theater run.
Significance and Anticipation Surrounding the Film’s Release
Bugonia represents a melding of international cinema influences and notable talent, with Emma Stone leading in a story that challenges perceptions of reality and human motivation. The collaboration between Lanthimos and Stone maintains their streak of critically interesting projects, while the involvement of Ari Aster in production hints at a layered, possibly unsettling cinematic experience.
Given its roots in a well-regarded South Korean film and the high-profile creative team, Bugonia is expected to attract audiences seeking a blend of dark comedy and sci-fi suspense when it premieres later this year.
