Bugonia's Writer Explains the Countless Wild Turns of the Latest Science Fiction Film

The film screenwriter Will Tracy barely recalls what happens in the original Korean movie. It's a little surprising, given that he wrote the screenplay for the director’s latest adaptation of the 2003 Korean dark sci-fi comedy. Instead of poring over the source material for ideas, the screenwriter behind his previous work watched the movie once, took a few notes, and began writing.

“I’ve only seen the original once,” the screenwriter states. “I didn’t really remember the movie in great detail. I didn't want to feel like I had to be faithfully adapting or recreating or paying tribute to someone else's vision. The fairest thing to both films was to have them each stand on their own.”

While the premise of a emotionally troubled man (Jesse Plemons in Bugonia) who abducts a pharmaceutical executive he’s certain is an alien in disguise is largely the same in both films, the variations are considerable. Firstly, Tracy re-envisioned the lead role, played by a man in Jang Joon-hwan’s original, as a woman. (Lanthimos cast his regular partner the actress in the part.) The conclusions vary a bit too, in the way they address their shared core mystery: Is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

The screenwriter feels that answer is somewhat beside the point.

“I wasn't really concerned with the twist aspect,” he comments. “My intention wasn't for the film to just be a toy that does one surprise, and then once it does that surprise, it's like: Alright, so what's next?”

However, Tracy has a lot to say on the subject. Our discussion with the writer touched on Bugonia’s finale and what it all means, along with the ways he and Lanthimos worked together to execute those surprises.

Spoiler Alert: Full spoilers follow for the ending of the movie.

Therefore, is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

Short answer: Yes.

Just like in Save the Green Planet, the conclusion of Bugonia discloses that the CEO, a pharmaceutical executive named her character, is actually alien royalty in hiding. Once she manipulates her kidnapper Teddy (Plemons) into ending his own life using her advanced device, she beams back up to her Andromedon spaceship.

The reality that this comes as a surprise is a proof to Stone’s acting skills. Throughout the 118-minute film, she maintains suspense through a complex portrayal that may require multiple viewings to comprehend entirely.

“Emma frequently discussed how it was the initial instance she had to act where she felt she had to be aware of people viewing it again. What the repeat viewers are going to think,” Tracy says. "She knew the second time someone sees this film, They know that I know that I'm… you know?”

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

Creating the Andromedons and their spaceship

Once the CEO finally does reveal her true nature, we get a quick look of her spaceship and fellow aliens before Bugonia ends. Their ship has a distinct appearance, which Tracy reveals was meant to look like a marine animal while avoiding futuristic aesthetics.

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

They should feel strangely somewhat primitive or primitive.

The Andromedons’ clothing is just as interesting as their vessel: rounded dress-like garments made from large, ropey threads. Once more, the aim was to go against sci-fi movie tradition.

“For the costumes, instead of being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel strangely kind of primitive or primitive, and yet also quite ornate and sophisticated, because it's such an intricate and beautiful design on those strange knit costumes,” the writer states. He adds that Lanthimos “viewed it as being a extremely old society. He disliked the idea of any element being smooth and metallic, or a hyper-futuristic look.”

The conclusion of the world (or only humankind)

Perhaps the biggest difference between the new film and the original is that in the first version, the aliens respond to their ruler's abduction and mistreatment by destroying the world. This adaptation takes a somewhat more nuanced approach, with its beings opting to eliminate all mankind, while leaving the Earth and its remaining creatures intact.

“My intention to do in the script was a vision of the planet after humanity,” Tracy says.

In the film's conclusion, we see a sequence of scenes of existence across the globe. Every person lie dead where they were standing just before, but the Earth keeps spinning. How viewers, are supposed to make of these events is open to discussion. Is the ending of Bugonia optimistic or pessimistic? Is humanity doomed or worth saving? Is the planet be better off in our absence?

The screenwriter isn’t willing to provide a definitive answer either way.

“Some people see it as a very bleak ending, or a sad finale, a hopeless ending,” he says. “Other people see it as being a strangely optimistic or happy conclusion. I think there's different ways to understand it.”

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