“Bugonia” Makes World Premiere at Venice Film Festival with Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos

August 28, 2025, marked a significant day for cinema as Yorgos Lanthimos’ highly anticipated sci-fi black comedy “Bugonia” had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The film, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, generated considerable buzz with its red carpet debut, official trailer release, and revealing press conferences that offered insights into both the film’s themes and Stone’s personal beliefs about extraterrestrial life.

Venice Film Festival Premiere and Red Carpet

The film made its debut in the main competition section of the Venice International Film Festival, with the cast and crew walking the red carpet at the prestigious event. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Alicia Silverstone, Stavros Halkias, and director Yorgos Lanthimos were all present for the celebration, marking what many consider one of the most anticipated premieres of the festival. The red carpet event showcased the star-studded ensemble, with notable appearances that drew significant media attention throughout the day.

This premiere represents Lanthimos’ return to Venice after his previous success with “Poor Things,” which won the Golden Lion in 2023 and subsequently earned four Academy Awards. The festival selection places “Bugonia” in contention for the Golden Lion, with the awards ceremony scheduled for September 6, 2025.

Official Trailer Release and Distribution News

Coinciding with the Venice premiere, Universal Pictures released the official trailer for “Bugonia,” providing audiences their first comprehensive look at the film. The trailer showcases the sci-fi black comedy’s premise, where two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap a high-powered CEO, convinced she is an alien intent on destroying Earth. Focus Features, the film’s distributor, confirmed that “Bugonia” will have a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 24, 2025, followed by a wide release on October 31.

The film is scheduled for release in UK and Ireland cinemas in October 2025, with additional screenings planned at the Deauville American Film Festival, the Miskolc International Film Festival, and the San Sebastián International Film Festival.

Emma Stone’s Alien Declarations

During the film’s promotional activities, Emma Stone made headlines by declaring her belief in the existence of extraterrestrial life. The actress stated that she agrees with astronomer Carl Sagan’s perspective that it would be “pretty narcissistic” to think there is no other life in the universe. This personal revelation took on added significance given her role in “Bugonia,” where she portrays a pharmaceutical CEO who is kidnapped by conspiracy theorists convinced she is an alien.

Stone’s comments came during press events surrounding the film’s Venice debut, adding an intriguing meta-layer to the promotional campaign for a movie that explores themes of conspiracy theories and alien paranoia.

Press Conference Insights and Director’s Vision

At the Venice press conference, Lanthimos and Stone provided detailed insights into the film’s contemporary relevance and their collaborative process. Stone characterized “Bugonia” as “reflective of this moment in our society,” describing it as a “fascinating, poignant, humorous, and vibrant” project that captures current societal tensions. The actress emphasized her continued enthusiasm for working with Lanthimos, noting that their repeated collaborations have created “a comforting and secure atmosphere for exploration” that “genuinely feels like a family”.

Lanthimos offered a particularly sobering perspective on the film’s themes, stating that “much of the dystopia depicted is not entirely fictional” and that it “resonates with the real world”. The Greek director emphasized that “Bugonia” is not a dystopian vision of the future but rather a reflection of what is “currently unfolding” in society. He went further to suggest that “humanity is facing a reckoning very soon,” pointing to global challenges including technology, artificial intelligence, wars, climate change, and widespread denial of these issues.

Critical Reception and Reviews

Early reviews from Venice began emerging throughout the day, with critics offering mixed but generally engaged responses to Lanthimos’ latest work. TIME’s review described the film as “punishing” but praised Emma Stone’s performance, noting that “Stone can do no wrong” even in challenging material. Vulture’s review characterized “Bugonia” as potentially Lanthimos’ “saddest film,” noting that it represents his first work featuring characters who “inhabit the real world” rather than his typical surreal constructs.

The Hollywood Reporter provided a more positive assessment, praising both Stone and Plemons’ performances and noting that the film “dazzles visually” with its VistaVision cinematography. Critics consistently highlighted the film’s reflection of contemporary anxieties about conspiracy theories, corporate power, and societal disconnection.

Film Details and Production Background

“Bugonia” serves as an English-language remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 South Korean film “Save the Green Planet!”. The adaptation, written by Will Tracy, centers on Jesse Plemons as Teddy, a conspiracy theorist beekeeper, and Aidan Delbis as his cousin Don, who kidnap Emma Stone’s pharmaceutical executive Michelle under the belief that she is an extraterrestrial threat. The film’s title derives from an ancient Greek term referring to the belief that bees spontaneously generate from the carcasses of dead animals, particularly oxen.

The production represents the fifth collaboration between Lanthimos and Stone, following their work on “The Favourite,” “Poor Things,” and “Kinds of Kindness”. Principal photography took place in High Wycombe, England, and Milos, Greece, with cinematographer Robbie Ryan shooting on 35mm film using VistaVision cameras.

Conclusion

August 28, 2025, established “Bugonia” as one of the most talked-about films at the Venice International Film Festival, combining a high-profile premiere with revealing promotional activities and early critical discourse. The convergence of Lanthimos and Stone’s continued collaboration, the film’s timely themes about conspiracy theories and societal decay, and Stone’s personal declarations about extraterrestrial life created a perfect storm of media attention. As the film prepares for its wider theatrical release in October, today’s Venice debut has set the stage for what promises to be continued discussion about both its artistic merits and its reflection of contemporary cultural anxieties.