In Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film, Bugonia, Emma Stone plays a powerful CEO who is abducted by two scheming men played by Jesse Plemons and newcomer Aidan Delvis.
But when it comes to off-screen conspiracy theories, one in particular has captured Plemons’ imagination.
“Well, there’s a song that I’ve been talking about with Jesse,” Stone told Variety on Tuesday night at the premiere inside New York’s Museum of Modern Art. “Has he said it yet?”
When asked to share his favorite conspiracy theory, Plemons didn’t hesitate: “Birds aren’t real. Which one is real? It’s not real.”
“Oh, it’s a bird,” Stone laughed. “Birds aren’t real. I mean, I believe birds are real. But it’s interesting to walk around New York right now, where there are so many birds, and think, ‘What if all the pigeons here right now were little drones?’
Comedian Stavros Halkias, who plays a scene-stealing role as a small-town police officer, said he’s drawn to another enduring Internet myth.
“I don’t think they’re actually lizard people, but the people who are effectively ruling the world are not humans,” Halkias explained, referring to the reptilian conspiracy theory. “They’re more worried about getting rich than anything else. It’s an interesting metaphor for trying to explain the evil that’s ruining everyone’s lives by saying, ‘Oh, there must be a different species.'” It’s like, “No, they’re kind of awful people.” ”
One warm-blooded creator who keeps rising through the turmoil is Lanthimos himself, who has built a reputation as a true actor-director. His creative partnership with Stone in particular has been one of Hollywood’s most formidable collaborations.
“Yorgos is a huge inspiration to me,” said Alicia Silverstone, who reunites with Lanthimos in “Bugonia” for the first time since 2017’s “The Killing of a Sacred Deer.” “He’s so prolific and so talented. I love being able to free fall with him. I’ll do anything. I might not do anything, but when he calls, I don’t even have to read[the script].”
Lanthimos’ past blockbusters include “The Lobster,” which earned Stone her second Oscar, “The Queen’s Favorite” and “Poor Things.” All of his films share a quirky R-rated sensibility, but will Lanthimos ever expand his horizons and make more family-friendly fare?
“I’ve done it too. It’s called ‘Dogtooth,'” Lanthimos laughed. “It’s a family movie.” The Greek director’s 2009 blockbuster feature film “Dogtooth” is a psychological drama about a father who confines his adult children to an isolated compound and manipulates their reality through control, deprivation and deception.
“I don’t really think about it from that standpoint,” Lanthimos explained. “I just make the movies that I want to make. And, you know, the movies come out the way they’re made. So you never know.”
Bugonia will be released in select theaters on October 24th and nationwide on October 31st.
