Emma Stone leads Lanthimos drama to awards talk

Stone delivers a fearless lead performance in Lanthimos's Bugonia that invites comparisons to Katharine Hepburn while staking its own bold claim.

Emma Stone Channels Hepburn in Bugonia by Lanthimos

Emma Stone stars in Bugonia, Lanthimos’s bold adaptation that premiered at Venice before a Telluride screening. The dark comedy follows two conspiracy-obsessed men, played by Jesse Plemons and newcomer Aidan Delbis, who kidnap a high-powered CEO believed to be an alien. The film, adapted from Save the Green Planet, blends satire, suspense and surreal humor as it sets up an awards-season conversation for Focus Features.

Stone, a two-time Oscar winner, showcases a fearless range that critics say could redefine the modern leading lady. Plemons delivers audacious work, and Delbis stands out in a scene-stealing debut that gives the film its emotional spine. With potential across acting, directing, screenplay and visual effects, Bugonia arrives as a strong candidate in multiple craft categories and as a serious contender for the season’s top prize.

Lanthimos leans into a Hitchcockian mood, pairing his signature deadpan humor with high-stakes tension that keeps audiences off balance. Stone’s performance is framed as an inheritance from Hepburn, not imitation, signaling a deliberate move toward hard-edged heroines who balance wit with danger. The script by Will Tracy trades away easy exposition for taut, brittle dialogue that rewards repeat viewing and close attention.

Yet the film bears inherent risks. Its bold blend of genres and its cross-era homage could polarize some viewers, complicating how voters assess its seriousness versus its entertainment value. Focus Features faces a delicate balancing act in crafting a narrative that persuades Oscar voters while preserving the film’s audacious spirit. Timing from Venice to Telluride amplifies the awards conversation but also raises expectations for how aggressively the campaign should be run.

Highlights

The awards season will test the balance between risk and reward in Bugonia’s bold approach.