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Focus Features has picked up worldwide rights to George Lanthimos’ latest project Bugoniathe remake of the South Korean sci-fi comedy Save the Green Planet, which sees the Greek director reunite with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. The trio is here in Cannes with the title Competition Kindness itemswhich had its world premiere on Friday.
Focus will be released Bugonia in the US, with Universal Pictures distributing the title internationally (except South Korea). It’s the second deal for Focus Features announced at Cannes this week (Focus picked up Woody Harrelson starrer Last breath a few days ago), but this will be a notable coup for the studio, given that Lanthimos’ previous Oscar-winning titles The favorite and Poor as well as the Cannes contender Kindness items All handled by Searchlight for distribution.
CAA Media Finance and WME Independent brokered the deal.
Bugonia follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the powerful CEO of a major corporation, convinced she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. It’s another team for Lanthimos with producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures, who will produce with the Lanthimos, Square Peg’s Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen, Stone through her Fruit Tree banner and Jerry Kyoungboum Ko of CJ ENM.
This will be an English version of the 2003 South Korean sci-fi comedy Save the Green Planetwhich was a huge success at the international festival and won two Korean Film Awards.
“George Lanthimos is a cinematic visionary with a unique style that has captivated audiences around the world,” said Focus Features President Peter Kujawski. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with him, Emma and the incredible teams at Element, Square Peg and CJ ENM to reimagine this twisted and darkly funny story.”
Guiney and Lowe added: “We look forward to working with the outstanding team at Focus Features and are delighted to be reunited with George, Emma and Jesse, as well as many of the great crews we have worked with on recent films ».
Kyongboum Ko added, “I am excited to present the interesting story rooted in the hidden gem of Korean Cinema, in collaboration with the ideal team of talent and producers, along with the reputable studio. I expect George to spark a dynamic chemical fusion with his unique style and storytelling innovation.”
Christian Vesper, Fremantle CEO of Global Drama added: “We are thrilled to have Fremantle on board with George’s latest project and are proud to support the wonderful team at Element. George’s films are consistently innovative and captivating, and we are delighted to join him and all the wonderful collaborators in Bugonia.”
Fremantle has taken a majority stake in Element Pictures in 2022. The Irish-English outfit, which is featured as one of Deadline’s Cannes Disruptors 2024, comes to Cannes this year with three films in the Official Selection: Competition Title Kindness items, which reunites Lanthimos with his longtime writing partner Efthymis Philippou. The directorial debut of French actress Ariane Labed It says September; and I’m not a witch Director Rungano Nyoni’s second film To become a guinea hen.
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