Bugonia's Screenwriter Details the Numerous Unexpected Turns of the New Science Fiction Film

The film writer Will Tracy doesn’t really remember what transpires in the original Korean movie. This is somewhat unexpected, since he penned the screenplay for the director’s new adaptation of the 2003 Korean dark sci-fi comedy. Instead of studying the source material for ideas, the screenwriter behind The Menu watched the film a single time, took a few notes, and began writing.

“I watched the original the one time,” the screenwriter says. “I couldn't clearly recall the film in great detail. My aim wasn't to feel like I had to be slavishly following or recreating or honoring someone else's vision. The most respectful approach to those movies was to have them exist independently.”

While the premise of a mentally unstable man (Jesse Plemons in Bugonia) who abducts a business leader he’s certain is an extraterrestrial hiding on Earth is pretty much the same in each movie, the variations are considerable. For one thing, the writer rewrote the lead role, originally male in Jang Joon-hwan’s original, as a woman. (Lanthimos chose his frequent collaborator the actress in the role.) The conclusions vary a bit as well, in the way they address their central question: Is this person an extraterrestrial or not really?

Tracy believes that answer is somewhat 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 performs a single trick, and then after the reveal, it's like: Alright, so what's next?”

Nevertheless, Tracy has plenty to discuss on the topic. The interview with the screenwriter covered Bugonia’s ending and what it all means, along with the ways he and Lanthimos collaborated to execute those surprises.

Spoiler Alert: Complete details ahead for the ending of Bugonia.

Therefore, is Emma Stone an extraterrestrial or not an alien?

In brief: Yes.

Just like in the original film, the end of Bugonia discloses that Stone’s character, a pharmaceutical executive named her character, is actually alien royalty in disguise. Once she manipulates her captor Teddy (the actor) into ending his own life using her teleportation technology, she transports to her Andromedon spaceship.

The reality that this is unexpected is a proof to her performance. During the 118-minute movie, she keeps audiences guessing through a layered portrayal that may take multiple viewings to comprehend entirely.

“She talked a lot about how it was the initial instance she had to act where she felt she had to be conscious of people watching the movie a second time. What the repeat viewers are going to think,” Tracy explains. "She knew the second time someone sees this movie, They are aware I am conscious of… understand?”

He trails off, before adding, “Thus, her performance needed to reflect this awareness in her performance.”

Designing the aliens and their vessel

After the CEO ultimately shows her true nature, we get a quick look of her spaceship and fellow aliens before Bugonia ends. Their vessel has a distinct appearance, which the writer shares was meant to look like a sea creature while steering clear of high-tech visuals.

“[Yorgos] was really interested in almost like a jellyfish-inspired shape for the spaceship, something very natural,” Tracy comments.

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

The aliens' attire is equally fascinating as their ship: rounded robes made from thick, woven cords. Once more, the aim was to defy sci-fi movie tradition.

“For the costumes, instead of being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel unusually kind of tribal or primitive, and yet also quite ornate and not primitive, because it's a very detailed and elegant creation on those strange knit costumes,” Tracy states. He notes that the director “viewed it as being a extremely old society. He wasn't into the notion of anything being smooth and metallic, or a hyper-futuristic look.”

The end of the world (or only humankind)

Perhaps the most significant change between the new film and Save the Green Planet is that in the first version, the aliens react to their ruler's abduction and abuse by destroying planet Earth. Bugonia takes a somewhat more nuanced approach, with its aliens choosing to eliminate all human life, while leaving the Earth and its other inhabitants intact.

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

In the movie’s final moments, we see a series of shots of life across the planet. Every person lie dead where they were located moments earlier, but the world continues. How viewers, are supposed to interpret all this is open to discussion. Is the ending of Bugonia hopeful or bleak? Are people fated to perish or deserving of rescue? Would the world be better off in our absence?

The screenwriter does not wish to offer a clear resolution either way.

“Certain viewers find it to be a very bleak conclusion, or a sad ending, a hopeless outcome,” he says. “Different audiences see it as being a strangely hopeful or happy ending. I think there are various interpretations to understand it.”

The film is in select cinemas at present, with a wide release on Oct. 31.