The Screenwriter Explains the Numerous Unexpected Turns of Emma Stone's Latest Sci-Fi Film

Bugonia writer Will Tracy barely recalls what happens in the original Korean movie. It's a little surprising, given that he crafted the script for Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest reimagining of the 2003 Korean dark sci-fi comedy. Rather than studying the original script for ideas, the screenwriter behind his previous work viewed the film a single time, jotted down some thoughts, and got to work.

“I watched the original once,” Tracy explains. “I couldn't clearly recall the film in great detail. I didn't want to feel as though I had to be slavishly following or remaking or honoring another filmmaker's work. The fairest thing to both films was to have them each stand on their own.”

While the premise of a mentally unstable man (the actor in Bugonia) who abducts a business leader he’s convinced is an extraterrestrial hiding on Earth is pretty much the same in each movie, the differences are notable. For one thing, the writer rewrote the lead role, originally male in Jang Joon-hwan’s first version, as a woman. (The director cast his regular partner the actress in the part.) The endings vary a bit as well, in the way they address their shared core mystery: Is this person an extraterrestrial or not really?

Tracy believes that resolution is somewhat irrelevant.

“I never was really concerned with the twist aspect,” he comments. “My intention wasn't for the movie to just be a gadget that does a single trick, and then after the reveal, it's like: Alright, so what's next?”

Nevertheless, he has a lot to discuss on the topic. Our discussion with the screenwriter touched on the film’s ending and what it all means, along with the ways he and the director worked together to execute those surprises.

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

Therefore, is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

In brief: Absolutely.

Just like in Save the Green Planet, the end of this version discloses that Stone’s character, a big pharma CEO named Michelle Fuller, is actually a royal extraterrestrial in hiding. Once she manipulates her kidnapper the unstable man (Plemons) into ending his own life using her teleportation technology, she transports to her alien vessel.

The reality that this comes as a surprise is a proof to her performance. Throughout the 118-minute movie, she keeps audiences guessing through a complex portrayal that may take multiple viewings to fully understand.

“Emma talked a lot about how it was the first time she had to give a performance where she felt she had to be conscious of people viewing it again. How those rewatching are going to think,” the writer explains. "She was aware the second time someone sees this film, They know that I know that I'm… you know?”

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

Designing the aliens and their vessel

Once Stone’s character finally does reveal her real identity, we get a brief glimpse of her spaceship and fellow aliens before Bugonia ends. Their ship 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 fascinated by almost like a jellyfish-inspired shape for the vessel, something very natural,” Tracy says.

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

The Andromedons’ attire is equally fascinating as their vessel: rounded dress-like garments made from thick, woven cords. Once more, the aim was to defy conventional science fiction.

“Regarding the attire, rather than being futuristic, they [were meant to|aimed to] appear strangely somewhat primitive or basic, and yet also highly decorative and sophisticated, because it's such an intricate and elegant creation on those unusual woven outfits,” the writer states. He adds that the director “viewed it as being a very ancient civilization. He disliked the idea of any element being sleek and silver, or some ultra-modern cosmic vision.”

The conclusion of the Earth (or just humanity)

Maybe the biggest difference between the new film and Save the Green Planet is that in the original Korean movie, the aliens react to their ruler's abduction and abuse by blowing up planet Earth. This adaptation adopts a slightly subtler approach, with its beings choosing to snuff out all mankind, while leaving the planet and its remaining creatures intact.

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

In the movie’s final moments, we see a series of shots of existence across the planet. Every person lie dead where they were standing moments earlier, but the world continues. What we, as an audience, are supposed to make of these events is up for debate. Is the ending of Bugonia optimistic or bleak? Is humanity fated to perish or deserving of rescue? Is the planet be improved in our absence?

The screenwriter does not wish to offer a definitive answer in any direction.

“Certain viewers find it to be a very bleak ending, or a sad finale, a hopeless ending,” he states. “Other people view it as being a oddly hopeful or positive conclusion. In my opinion there are various interpretations to understand it.”

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