Yorgos Lanthimos is in his prime, and he seems fully aware of it. Since “The Lobster” surprised the Academy at the 2017 Oscars, the Greek director hasn’t slowed down, constantly immersed in production or on the brink of releasing a new movie.
This was evident with his recent works, “Poor Things” and “Kinds of Kindness.” Shortly after the success of the former and its acclaim at the most important event of the year for cinema, he announced the latter, wasting no time.
Now, history repeats itself. Fresh from the glowing reception of “Kinds of Kindness” at its Cannes premiere just hours ago, he’s already unveiling his next project, “Bugonia.”
Who are the cast of ‘Bugonia’?
According to Variety, two big names have already been confirmed for the cast: Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, who will again reunite following their recent participation in Lanthimos’ just premiered film.
As it’s well-known, the filmmaker often prefers to work with actors he’s previously directed. Therefore, based on his past collaborations, we could also anticipate the return of Colin Farrell, Olivia Colman, or Willem Dafoe to the set of the Greek director.
What is ‘Bugonia’ about?
“Bugonia” will be based on a South Korean sci-fi comedy film released in 2003 called “Save the Green Planet.” Its story revolves around a man who kidnaps another, believing him to be an alien.
Jesse Plemons, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone attend the “Kinds Of Kindness” Photocall at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2024 in Cannes, France. (Source: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Yorgos Lanthimos will adapt the original material, co-writing it with Will Tracy, known for his work on “The Menu.” Their picture will follow two conspiracy-obsessed young men who abduct a high-powered CEO, convinced she is an alien bent on destroying Earth.
Interestingly, Ari Aster is set to be one of its producers. Lanthimos and Aster share the same kind of dark style, so this adaptation may not retain the light comedy of the 2003 film.
When will ‘Bugonia’ be released?
It’s highly probable that “Bugonia” will follow a similar release schedule to that of “Kinds of Kindness” in relation to “Poor Things.” Lanthimos will likely allow his Cannes-released film to make its complete awards season journey this year, from the Golden Globes to the Oscars, before releasing his next production.
Of course, he will also need to coordinate with the schedules of Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. Fortunately, according to IMDb, they don’t have many upcoming projects, suggesting that pre-production will likely begin soon.
Considering these factors, if the Greek director follows the same pattern as his last two films, “Bugonia” should be released between March and August 2025 at the latest.
