The Screenwriter Discusses the Numerous Wild Turns of the New Sci-Fi Film

Bugonia writer the writer barely recalls what transpires in Save the Green Planet!. That’s a bit of a surprise, since he crafted the screenplay for Yorgos Lanthimos’s new adaptation of the 2003 Korean dark sci-fi comedy. Instead of poring over the source material for ideas, the writer behind The Menu viewed the movie once, jotted down some thoughts, and started the process.

“I watched the original once,” Tracy says. “My memory was foggy on the movie in great detail. I didn't want to feel like I had to be slavishly following or remaking or paying tribute to someone else's vision. The most respectful approach to those movies was to have them each stand on their own.”

While the basic plot of a emotionally troubled man (the actor in the new version) who kidnaps a business leader he’s certain is an extraterrestrial hiding on Earth is mostly the identical in both films, the differences are considerable. Firstly, the writer rewrote the lead role, originally male in Jang Joon-hwan’s original, as a woman. (The director cast his regular partner the actress in the role.) The endings vary a bit too, in the way they address their shared core mystery: Is this person an extraterrestrial or not?

The screenwriter feels that resolution is somewhat beside the point.

“I wasn't really focused on the twist aspect,” he comments. “I didn't want the film to just be a gadget that performs one surprise, and then after the reveal, it's like: OK, well, what else does this toy do?”

However, Tracy has a lot to say on the subject. Our discussion with the screenwriter touched on the film’s ending and its implications, along with the methods he and Lanthimos worked together to bring those twists to life.

Warning: Complete details follow for the ending of the movie.

Therefore, is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

Short answer: Yes.

Similar to in the original film, the end of Bugonia reveals that Stone’s character, a big pharma CEO named Michelle Fuller, is actually a royal extraterrestrial in hiding. Once she manipulates her captor Teddy (the actor) into killing himself using her advanced device, Fuller beams back up to her Andromedon spaceship.

The fact that this comes as a surprise is a testament to her performance. Throughout the 118-minute film, she keeps audiences guessing through a complex performance that may require multiple viewings to comprehend entirely.

“She frequently discussed how it was the first time she had to give a performance where she felt she had to be conscious of people watching the movie a second time. What the repeat viewers are going to perceive,” Tracy explains. "She knew the upon a repeat viewing a person watches this movie, They are aware I am conscious of… you know?”

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

Designing the Andromedons and their spaceship

After the CEO finally does reveal her real identity, we get a quick look of her spaceship and fellow aliens before the film concludes. Their vessel has a distinct appearance, which Tracy shares was meant to look like a sea creature while avoiding futuristic aesthetics.

“[Yorgos] was really interested in almost like a jellyfish-type design for the vessel, something very natural,” he comments.

They should feel strangely kind of primitive or primitive.

The Andromedons’ clothing is equally fascinating as their vessel: rounded robes made from large, ropey threads. Again, the goal was to go against conventional science fiction.

“Regarding the attire, rather than being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] appear strangely kind of primitive or basic, and yet also quite ornate and sophisticated, because it's such an intricate and elegant creation on those strange knit costumes,” the writer says. He notes that the director “thought of it as being a extremely old society. He disliked the idea of anything being sleek and silver, or some ultra-modern cosmic vision.”

The conclusion of the world (or just humanity)

Maybe the most significant change between Bugonia and the original is that in the original Korean movie, the extraterrestrials react to their leader's kidnapping and mistreatment by destroying the world. Bugonia adopts a somewhat more nuanced approach, with its beings opting to eliminate all human life, while keeping the Earth and its remaining creatures intact.

“My intention to achieve in the script was a vision of Earth after humanity,” Tracy explains.

In the film's conclusion, we see a series of shots of existence across the globe. Every person are deceased where they were located just before, but the world continues. How viewers, are supposed to interpret these events is up for debate. Is the ending of Bugonia hopeful or bleak? Is humanity doomed or worth saving? 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 extremely dark conclusion, or a sad ending, a despairing ending,” he states. “Different audiences view it as being a strangely optimistic or positive conclusion. In my opinion there are various interpretations to read it.”

Bugonia is currently in select cinemas at present, with a broader opening on Halloween.