Bugonia's Writer Discusses the Many Surprising Turns of the Latest Science Fiction Film

Bugonia screenwriter the writer has a hazy memory of what transpires in Save the Green Planet!. That’s a bit of a surprise, considering he crafted the screenplay for the director’s new adaptation of the original 2003 film. Rather than analyzing 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 Save the Green Planet the one time,” Tracy says. “I didn’t really remember the movie all that well. I didn't want to feel like I had to be faithfully adapting or recreating or honoring another filmmaker's work. The most respectful approach to both films was to have them each stand on their own.”

While the premise of a mentally unstable man (Jesse Plemons in the new version) who abducts a business leader he’s certain is an extraterrestrial hiding on Earth is mostly the identical in each movie, the variations are notable. To start, Tracy rewrote 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 role.) The endings differ slightly as well, in the way they address their shared core mystery: Is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

Tracy feels that resolution is somewhat beside the point.

“I never was really concerned with the surprise element,” he says. “I didn't want the film to just be a toy that does one surprise, and then once it does that surprise, it's like: OK, well, what else does this toy do?”

However, Tracy has plenty to discuss on the subject. The interview with the screenwriter touched on Bugonia’s finale and what it all means, along with the ways he and the director worked together to execute those surprises.

Spoiler Alert: Full spoilers ahead for the conclusion of Bugonia.

So is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

Short answer: Absolutely.

Just like in the original film, the conclusion of this version discloses that Stone’s character, a big pharma CEO named her character, is in fact alien royalty in hiding. After tricking her kidnapper Teddy (Plemons) into killing himself using her advanced device, Fuller transports to her Andromedon spaceship.

The fact that this comes as a surprise is a proof to her performance. During the 118-minute movie, she maintains suspense through a complex performance that may require multiple viewings to fully understand.

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

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

Designing the Andromedons and their spaceship

After Stone’s character finally does reveal her real identity, we get a quick look of her ship and fellow aliens before the film concludes. Their ship has a distinct appearance, which the writer shares was intended to look like a marine animal while avoiding futuristic aesthetics.

“[Yorgos] was really interested in almost like a jellyfish-inspired shape for the vessel, something quite organic,” Tracy says.

They should feel oddly somewhat tribal or primitive.

The Andromedons’ attire is just as interesting as their ship: rounded dress-like garments made from large, ropey threads. Once more, the goal was to go against conventional science fiction.

“For the costumes, instead of being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel unusually kind of primitive or basic, and yet also highly decorative and not primitive, because it's a very detailed and elegant creation on those unusual woven outfits,” the writer says. He notes that the director “thought of it as being a extremely old society. He wasn't into the idea of any element being smooth and metallic, or some ultra-modern cosmic vision.”

The conclusion of the Earth (or just humankind)

Perhaps the biggest difference between the new film and Save the Green Planet is that in the original Korean movie, the extraterrestrials react to their ruler's abduction and abuse by destroying the world. Bugonia takes a slightly subtler method, with its beings choosing to snuff out all human life, while keeping the planet and its remaining creatures unharmed.

“My intention to achieve 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 life across the globe. All humans are deceased where they were standing just before, but the Earth continues. How viewers, are meant to make of these events is up for debate. Does the conclusion of the film hopeful or pessimistic? Are people doomed or worth saving? Is the planet be better off in our absence?

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

“Certain viewers see it as a extremely dark conclusion, or a sad ending, a hopeless outcome,” he says. “Other people view it as being a strangely optimistic or positive conclusion. In my opinion there are various interpretations to understand it.”

Bugonia is currently in limited theatrical release at present, with a broader opening on Oct. 31.