The Writer Explains the Many Unexpected Twists of the Latest Science Fiction Movie

The film screenwriter the writer barely recalls what happens in Save the Green Planet!. This is somewhat unexpected, given that he wrote the script for Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest reimagining of the 2003 Korean dark sci-fi comedy. Rather than analyzing the original script for ideas, the writer behind The Menu watched the film a single time, jotted down some thoughts, and got to work.

“I watched the original once,” the screenwriter 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 recreating or paying tribute to another filmmaker's work. 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 convinced is an alien in disguise is mostly the identical in each movie, the variations are notable. To start, Tracy re-envisioned the lead role, originally male in Jang Joon-hwan’s first version, as a female character. (Lanthimos cast his frequent collaborator the actress in the part.) The conclusions differ slightly as well, in the way they address their central question: Is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

The screenwriter believes that answer is a bit not the main focus.

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

However, Tracy has plenty to say on the topic. Our discussion with the writer covered the film’s finale and its implications, along with the ways he and Lanthimos worked together to bring those twists to life.

Warning: Full spoilers ahead for the conclusion of Bugonia.

So is the character an extraterrestrial or not?

In brief: Yes.

Just like in Save the Green Planet, the end of this version reveals that Stone’s character, a big pharma CEO named Michelle Fuller, is in fact alien royalty in hiding. Once she manipulates her captor Teddy (the actor) into ending his own life using her teleportation technology, Fuller beams back up to her alien vessel.

The fact that this is unexpected is a testament to her performance. During the 118-minute movie, she maintains suspense through a layered performance that may require several rewatches to fully understand.

“She frequently discussed how it was the first time she had to act where she felt she had to be conscious of people viewing it again. What the repeat viewers are going to think,” the writer says. "She knew the upon a repeat viewing a person watches this movie, They know that I know that I'm… understand?”

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

Designing the Andromedons and their vessel

After the CEO ultimately shows her true nature, we get a brief glimpse of her ship and fellow aliens before the film ends. Their ship has a distinct appearance, which the writer shares was intended to look like a marine animal while avoiding high-tech visuals.

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

They should feel strangely kind of tribal or ancient.

The aliens' attire is equally fascinating as their vessel: bulbous robes made from large, ropey threads. Again, the goal was to go against conventional science fiction.

“Regarding the attire, rather than being futuristic, they [were meant to|aimed to] appear unusually kind of tribal or primitive, and yet also highly decorative and sophisticated, because it's such an intricate and beautiful design on those strange knit costumes,” Tracy says. He adds that the director “thought of it as being a very ancient civilization. He wasn't into the idea of any element being sleek and silver, or some ultra-modern cosmic vision.”

The end of the world (or only humankind)

Maybe the biggest difference between the new film and the original is that in the original Korean movie, the aliens react to their ruler's abduction and abuse by blowing up planet Earth. Bugonia takes a somewhat more nuanced approach, with its aliens opting to snuff out all mankind, while keeping the planet and its other inhabitants unharmed.

“What I wanted to achieve in the script was a depiction of Earth post-human existence,” the writer says.

In the film's conclusion, we see a series of shots of life across the globe. All humans lie dead where they were standing just before, but the world continues. How viewers, are supposed to make of all this is up for debate. Does the conclusion of Bugonia hopeful or bleak? Is humanity fated to perish or deserving of rescue? Is the planet be improved without us?

The screenwriter isn’t willing to offer a clear resolution in any direction.

“Certain viewers find it to be a extremely dark ending, or a sad finale, a hopeless outcome,” he states. “Other people see it as being a strangely optimistic or positive ending. In my opinion there's different ways to read it.”

The film is in limited theatrical release at present, with a wide release on Oct. 31.