In Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film “Bugonia,” Emma Stone plays a powerful CEO who’s abducted by two conspiracy-obsessed men, portrayed by Jesse Plemons and newcomer Aidan Delbis.
But when it comes to conspiracy theories off-screen, one in particular has captured Plemons’ imagination.
“Well, Jesse has one that he’s really been harping on,” Stone told Variety on Tuesday night at the New York premiere inside the MoMa. “Did he tell you already?”
When asked to share his favorite conspiracy theory, Plemons didn’t hesitate: “Birds aren’t real. Which is true. It’s not real.”
“Yeah, the birds,” Stone laughed. “The birds aren’t real. I mean, I believe birds are real. But it is interesting walking around New York now with so many pigeons and thinking, ‘What if all of these — right here, right now — were little drones?’”
Comedian Stavros Halkias, who delivers a scene-stealing turn 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 effectively, the people that are ruling the world aren’t human,” Halkias explained, referring to the reptilian conspiracy theory. “They’re more worried about getting rich than anything else. It’s an interesting metaphor trying to explain the evil that’s ruining everybody’s life by saying, ‘Oh, there must be a different species.’ It’s like, ‘Nah, they’re just kind of shitty people.’”
One warm-blooded creative who continues to rise above the chaos is Lanthimos himself, who’s built a reputation as a true actors’ director. His creative partnership with Stone, in particular, has become one of the most formidable collaborations in Hollywood.
“Yorgos is someone I’m so inspired by,” said Alicia Silverstone, who reunites with Lanthimos on “Bugonia” for the first time since 2017’s “The Killing of a Sacred Deer.” “He’s so prolific and talented. I love being able to freefall with him. I’ll do anything — maybe not anything, but when he calls, I don’t even need to read [the script].”
Some of Lanthimos’ past heavy-hitters include “The Lobster,” “The Favourite” and “Poor Things,” which earned Stone her second Oscar. All of his films share a quirky, R-rated sensibility — but will Lanthimos ever expand his horizons and make something more family-friendly?
“I have done one, it’s called ‘Dogtooth,’” Lanthimos laughed. “It’s a family-friendly movie.” “Dogtooth,” the Greek filmmaker’s breakout 2009 feature, is a psychological drama about a father who keeps his adult children locked inside an isolated compound, manipulating their reality through control, deprivation and deceit.
“I don’t really think about it in those terms,” Lanthimos explained. “I just make the films I want to make, and you know, they come out the way they come out. So, who knows?”
“Bugonia” opens in select theaters on Oct. 24 before expanding nationwide Oct. 31.
