Podcast Summary

All Of It (WNYC): Jesse Plemons Stars in 'Bugonia,' the Latest Film From Yorgos Lanthimos

Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guests: Yorgos Lanthimos (director), Jesse Plemons (actor)
Episode Focus: Exploring the themes, characters, and creative choices of "Bugonia," a new film by Yorgos Lanthimos starring Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone. The film examines alienation, conspiracy theories, and power dynamics through an offbeat, genre-bending story.

Episode Overview

Host Alison Stewart dives into the cultural and philosophical layers of "Bugonia," a surreal satire from director Yorgos Lanthimos. Jesse Plemons (who plays Teddy, a conspiracy-obsessed worker) and Lanthimos unpack character development, the collaborative filmmaking process, the appeal of aliens as a motif, and how shifting a major character’s gender brings fresh dimensions to their adaptation of “Save the Green Planet.” The episode spotlights the film’s unique tone and its interrogation of truth, power, and the absurdities of human nature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Premise and Themes of "Bugonia"

• The film’s core reflects Karl Marx's theory of alienation—workers under capitalism are disconnected from their labor, resulting in a broader estrangement from humanity and society.

  • Alison Stewart (00:09): "Yorgos Lanthimos gives new meaning to the idea of Karl Marx's theory of alienation... All of which sort of takes place in this movie."

• Jesse Plemons stars as Teddy, a packaging facility worker ensnared by Internet conspiracies; he kidnaps his CEO, convinced she’s an extraterrestrial plotting to destroy Earth.

  • Clip (01:19): Teddy explains his “evidence” for her alienness: "The tells are there. Narrow feet, thin cuticles, slight overbite, semi obtruding earlobes... You just know."

Avoiding Conspiracy Theory Tropes

• Jesse Plemons describes what drew him to Teddy as a character—he’s not a flat conspiracy theorist but makes points that are uncomfortably understandable.
  • Jesse Plemons (02:48): "...it was very hard to argue some of his points. Some of his points I agreed strongly with. And then some others not so much. That’s the brilliant thing that Will Tracy, our screenwriter, did—he gave both Teddy and Michelle very compelling, very objectively true statements, you know, dialogue."

Creative Collaboration and Trust

• Yorgos Lanthimos discusses the benefits of working repeatedly with collaborators like Emma Stone (Michelle/CEO), Jesse Plemons, and composer Jerskin Fendrix.
  • Yorgos Lanthimos (03:54): "Finding someone that... you understand, that you can get along with... you build trust... there's no fear in making a fool of yourself because you know everybody has your back."
  • Repeated collaborations create a safe, in-tune environment for actors and crew, crucial for tackling complex films.

Character Construction and Archetypes

• Lanthimos intentionally introduces characters as recognizable archetypes (the Everyman, the cold CEO) before peeling back layers.
  • Yorgos Lanthimos (06:29): "We treat them initially almost as archetypes... from her house and her daily routine, how she wakes up... the way she dresses... just reinforce the initial idea... But the point of the film... is to afterwards kind of challenge those ideas... revealing layers of these characters’ personalities and traits..."

Dialogue, Corporate Jargon, and Character Depth

• The cat-and-mouse conversations between Teddy and the CEO (Michelle, played by Emma Stone) are intentionally ambiguous—could be human, could be alien.

  • Stewart: "Michelle keeps saying things like, 'Let's have a dialogue.' It could be human or it could be alien." (08:02)
  • Lanthimos says Michelle adapts her approach, shifting from assertive to conciliatory as she gauges Teddy’s intelligence and determination.
    • Yorgos Lanthimos (08:35): "She's trying to find different ways to approach it as a good, well educated, experienced CEO would..."

• Plemons reflects on Teddy’s resistance to corporate speak, revealing his depth and irritation at empty platitudes.

  • Jesse Plemons (10:08): "I have a similar feeling with this sort of superficial, corporate speak... a lot of words without any sort of meaning, which was extremely maddening for Teddy, who just wants Michelle to say it outright and plain, and, you know, he never got that."

Gender-Swapping the Captive and the Story’s Dynamics

• "Bugonia" is adapted from the Korean film "Save the Green Planet," in which the captive CEO is a man. This version casts Emma Stone.
  • Lanthimos notes it wasn’t his decision, but he sees the shift making the conflict more cerebral and less about machismo.
    • Yorgos Lanthimos (11:47): "Maybe, like, the clash of two men seems to be more about machismo. It adds another interesting layer... has to be fought on a more intellectual level, but... less testosterone. In the end, violence is not avoided."

The Allure of Aliens

• Plemons shares his fascination with how aliens might see humanity—reflecting on our absurdities through their fictional lens.

  • Jesse Plemons (14:08): "I thought so often about [aliens'] perspective of us and what they must think of us and how silly and strange we must seem to them, the games we play to pass time and all of that..."

• Lanthimos, for his part, avoided explicit alien research during filming, only indulging his curiosity afterward.

  • Yorgos Lanthimos (14:56): "I didn't even go too much into it while making the film. I go into it afterwards... I just wanted to stay away from it all and... bringing that [script] to life in the most impactful way."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Teddy’s Alien “Evidence”

  • "Narrow feet, thin cuticles, slight overbite, semi obtruding earlobes... It's like if you don't cook steaks a lot, you won't know when it's cooked medium rare. But if you cook steaks all the time, you just know." (Teddy, film clip, 01:19)

• On Collaboration

  • "When you work together again, you can go further and explore different directions... there's no fear in making a fool of yourself because you know everybody has your back." (Yorgos Lanthimos, 04:01)

• On Avoiding Corporate Speak

  • "There's a lot of words without any sort of meaning, you know, which was... increasingly maddening for Teddy, who just wants Michelle to say it outright and plain." (Jesse Plemons, 10:49)

• On Gender Dynamics

  • "Maybe... the clash of two men seems to be more about machismo... It adds another interesting layer, the fact that, you know, there's that aspect of it that has to be fought on a more intellectual level, but... less testosterone." (Yorgos Lanthimos, 12:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Film Synopsis – 00:09
• Clip: Teddy Explains His Theory – 01:08
• Casting and Archetypes Discussion – 02:31, 06:29
• Collaborative Filmmaking Conversation – 03:39
• Motivations Behind Teddy’s Actions – 05:01
• Michelle’s Characterization – 06:07, 08:02
• Dialogue & Character Depth – 08:35, 09:53
• On Changing the CEO's Gender – 11:34
• Discussion of Aliens and Perspective – 13:59
• Final Thoughts & Close – 15:59

Tone & Style

The conversation is intellectually curious, slightly irreverent—true to Lanthimos’ style—and keeps a balance of critical analysis and lightly comedic moments. The participants maintain warmth and respect even as they explore topics of absurdity and existential angst, reflective of the film’s own blend of satire and sincerity.

For Listeners & Fans

If you’re intrigued by movies that ask big questions, subvert expectations, and provide layered performances, this episode offers meaningful context for "Bugonia"—from both the actor's and director's perspectives. Their insights into collaboration, character development, and subversive storytelling enrich the viewing experience.