Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe at Venice Film Festival lit up the Lido as Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest collaboration with Stone, Bugonia, had its world premiere in competition. The premiere brought two of Lanthimos’s favorite muses back to the same carpet, kicked off a flurry of social clips, and sparked chatter about a quick, friendly kiss between the Oscar winner and the Spider-Verse star—while also showcasing Stone’s headline-grabbing on-screen transformation. Here’s what’s confirmed, what’s rumor, and why Bugonia is already one of the fall’s most dissected films.
First things first: what actually happened on the carpet?
Photo agencies and entertainment outlets documented Stone and Dafoe reuniting on the red carpet; fans also circulated short clips that appear to show the longtime collaborators sharing a brief, cordial peck before posing for photographers.
European entertainment coverage (and a repost from Vanity Fair Italia’s social feed) describe it as a warm greeting between colleagues, not a publicity stunt. Neither actor has issued a statement as of publication.
What is Bugonia about—and why Venice?
Bugonia is Yorgos Lanthimos’s English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet! Written by Will Tracy and produced by Element Pictures with Square Peg and CJ ENM, the film follows two men who kidnap a pharma CEO they believe is an alien bent on destroying Earth.
Stone plays the fearsomely composed executive; Jesse Plemons co-stars, with Aidan Delbis and Alicia Silverstone in key roles. Venice hosted the world premiere on August 28, 2025, positioning the film at the heart of awards-season conversation, just as Lanthimos did with Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness.
Stone’s radical look: shaved head, steely presence
One of the premiere’s biggest talking points: Stone’s on-screen transformation. Early reactions and festival reviews note that her character appears bald, amplifying the unsettling power dynamics in the kidnap storyline. Critics singled out the intensity of her performance—and the way the stripped-down look heightens the menace and mystery at the film’s core.
How critics are reacting
Venice reviews arrived fast and divided, very much in line with Lanthimos’s recent high-wire swings. Fashion-culture outlets praised Stone’s commanding turn and the film’s audacity, while some European critics argued the satire occasionally over-explains itself. That split—thrilled vs. skeptical—tends to track with Lanthimos’s signature tone: pitch-black humor, bursts of brutality, and moral puzzles that refuse tidy answers.
Release dates: when you can watch it
After Venice, Bugonia is set for a limited U.S. theatrical opening on October 24, 2025 before expanding wide on October 31, 2025. Internationally, Universal is handling distribution in many territories, with CJ ENM in South Korea and Focus Features in the U.S. Schedules can shift during festival season, but as of today those are the dates to mark.
For the studio’s latest synopsis and showtimes as they’re posted, check the Focus Features site closer to release.
The red-carpet moment in context
Stone and Dafoe have a long creative relationship with Lanthimos and share a comfortable rapport in public settings. Coverage of the Bugonia premiere shows both stars arriving separately, greeting colleagues, and posing with the cast and director; the widely shared “kiss” clip reads as a brief, friendly hello. Without official comment from either party, it’s best understood as a collegial moment amid the usual festival frenzy.
From memes to meaning: what Bugonia is really poking at
If you’ve seen the Korean original, you know the premise can carry wildly different tones—tragic, absurd, and political—all at once. Early Venice reviews suggest Lanthimos leans into conspiracy-era anxieties: the internet’s paranoia, the cult of CEO “visionaries,” and the commodification of truth.
Some viewers online have tried to map that directly onto today’s culture wars, but the film’s satire appears aimed more broadly at systems—corporate, media, and algorithmic—than at any single headline. Expect heated interpretation regardless; that’s part of why the director’s films stick in the discourse.
What the cameras didn’t miss: fashion and festival theater
Stone’s red-carpet look channeled old-school glamour with a modern silhouette, while co-stars and guests—from Jesse Plemons to Alicia Silverstone—gave the premiere a mini-reunion vibe for the broader Lanthimos “company.” Media galleries from the evening capture the full tableau: lead cast, director, and the wave of festival-goers that make Venice’s Sala Grande feel like a global stage.
Why Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe keep showing up in Lanthimos world
For Stone, Lanthimos has become a creative home—she’s now collaborated with him across multiple features, stretching from anarchic physicality to icy restraint. Dafoe, meanwhile, has been the kind of fearless scene partner whose presence intensifies a film’s moral weirdness.
Seeing them together at Venice isn’t just fan service; it signals continuity of a trusted troupe that thrives on discomfort, dark comedy, and formal risk. Festival cycles have a rhythm, and part of the Venice drama each year is spotting which auteurs bring back their ensemble.
Beyond the premiere: where Bugonia goes next
After Venice, the film is slated to play additional fall festivals before opening stateside. With Focus Features on U.S. distribution and Universal handling many international markets, expect a platforming strategy: early coastal bow, then a broader push timed to Halloween weekend’s appetite for edgy genre.
Whether the film becomes a mainstream hit is less important than the conversation it stirs; Lanthimos projects tend to leg out via think-pieces, awards chatter, and passionate fan evangelism.
Frequently asked questions
Did Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe actually kiss? Media outlets and social clips show what appears to be a brief, friendly peck during greetings on the carpet. Neither has commented publicly.
When did Bugonia premiere? August 28, 2025 at the Venice Film Festival (main competition).
Who’s in the cast? Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Alicia Silverstone—and yes, you’ll spot comedian Stavros Halkias in the ensemble.
When does it hit theaters? U.S. limited release on October 24, 2025; wide on October 31, 2025 (current plan).
Editorial note: navigating rumor vs. reality
Festival red carpets are built for moments that live forever online. But it’s worth repeating: a quick greeting caught at the right angle can look like more than it is. Our policy is to separate verified facts (premiere date, cast, release plans, critical takeaways) from viral interpretation. The Venetian stagecraft delivered both—and Bugonia itself gives audiences plenty to debate once the lights go down.
