Emma Stone Jokes That She Believes in Aliens at ‘Bugonia’ Venice Press Conference: ‘The Idea That We Are Alone’ Is ‘Pretty Narcissistic to Think’
“Bugonia” star Emma Stone jokingly made a confession at the Venice Film Festival press conference for her latest movie: She believes in aliens.
In the black comedy directed by her frequent collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos, Stone plays a high-powered CEO who is kidnapped by two conspiracy theorists who believe she is an extraterrestrial being sent to destroy Earth. Given the otherworldly themes of the film, Stone was asked during the press conference whether she believes there is ultimate intelligence “looking upon us and maybe saving our lives.”
“I don’t know about looking down on us, but one of my favorite people who has ever lived is Carl Sagan and I fell madly in love with his philosophy and science and how brilliant he is. He very deeply believed the idea that we’re alone in this vast expansive universe — not that we’re being watched — is a pretty narcissistic thing. So yes I’m coming out and saying it, I believe in aliens!”
“Bugonia,” which is premiering in competition at the festival on Thursday night, marks Lanthimos’ third film in third years — with all of them starring Stone. Alongside Stone as the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company, Jesse Plemons plays as a conspiracist beekeeper, Aidan Delbis as his partner in crime, Stavros Halkias and Alicia Silverstone. “The Menu” co-writer Will Tracy penned the script, which is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film “Save the Green Planet!,” directed by Jang Joon-hwan.
Lanthimos was last on the Lido in 2023 with his gothic comedy “Poor Things,” which won the festival’s Golden Lion for best film before earning four Oscars, including best actress for Stone. The next year brought wacky anthology drama “Kinds of Kindness,” which premiered at Cannes Film Festival. Headlined by both Stone and Plemons, the film won the latter the festival’s best actor award.
“Bugonia” is set for a theatrical release from Focus Features on Oct. 24.
