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Yorgos Lanthimos is planning to slow down.
After an intense 3 year run of projects like Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness, and now Bugonia, the acclaimed Greek filmmaker has said he’s ready to “take a little break.”
In a recent chat with Collider, Lanthimos admitted he’s run out of creative steam for now. He confessed:
“I think I need a break...I’ve said that before, but I’m serious this time. You can hold me to it.”
Between exhaustion and art: Why Yorgos Lanthimos feels the need to step away
When asked how he managed to deliver three ambitious films in such a short span, Yorgos Lanthimos didn’t sugarcoat it.
He told Collider:
“Well, I can’t keep doing that anymore...” That’s what we’re certain of right now.”
His back-to-back filming schedules have been nothing short of grueling. During post-production on Poor Things, he shot Kinds of Kindness, and before that even wrapped, Bugonia was already in motion.
Yorgos Lanthimos explained that his creative process leaves little room to breathe. He said:
“Every time a script is ready, it feels wrong to just let it sit there...I kind of force myself to find time and make it happen right after finishing something.”
His latest, Bugonia, reunites him with Emma Stone and writer Will Tracy (The Menu). It’s an English adaptation of Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, centered around two cousins (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) who kidnap a CEO (Stone) they think is an alien plotting Earth’s downfall.
The film, equal parts absurd and terrifying, feels like classic Lanthimos and maybe that’s why the break makes sense. After pushing artistic boundaries so fast and so hard, the filmmaker now admits,
“At some point, it runs out. We’re at that point.”
Inside the Making of Bugonia: Collaboration, Vision, and a Quiet Camera
Even in his exhaustion, Yorgos Lanthimos poured everything into Bugonia. Speaking about the film’s striking visuals, he shared how he and cinematographer Robbie Ryan experimented with VistaVision cameras.
He said:
“We shot a scene in Poor Things on VistaVision and loved it...”
He turned to explain that they later discovered a quieter Wilcam 11 camera that allowed them to shoot close dialogue scenes.
“It’s a huge camera - a real commitment - but it gave the film that immersive, intimate feel we wanted.”
Beyond the technical details, the film’s tone was nailed and done right due to its collaboration. Emma Stone, who plays Michelle Fuller, even influenced a key musical choice. Lanthimos recalled,
“It was a different song in the script, but Emily [Stone] was listening to Chappell Roan’s album at the time. She loved a particular song and suggested it, and it just worked perfectly for her character.”
Yet, underneath that artistry lies exhaustion. “You find the will and strength,” he admitted. “But at some point, it runs out,” and perhaps, that moment has finally come.
Conclusion
After years of delivering one visionary film after another, Yorgos Lanthimos is choosing rest and rightly so. His creative streak has reshaped modern cinema, but even the most inventive directors need a pause.
Bugonia might be his last for a while, but it also feels important to note that the break isn’t an ending but a promise of renewal when he returns.
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