Visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos announces his next movie. Lanthimos made a name for himself when he directed the dystopian dark comedy The Lobster, and went on to direct a number of notable titles, including last year’s Poor Things. Poor Things received critical acclaim and went on to be nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for lead Emma Stone.
As per Variety, Lanthimos has revealed his new project. This project will be a feature film remake of the South Korean fantasy comedy Save the Green Planet. Save the Green Planet will be produced by Poor Things studio Element Pictures. The script will be written by Will Tracy.
What To Expect from Save the Green Planet (And Why It’s a Great Project for Lanthimos)
Save the Green Planet is based on a 2003 South Korean film directed by Jang Joon-hwan. Described as a dark comedy, its plot focuses around a young man who captures and tortures a businessman who he believes to be a part of an alien invasion. The film then devolves into a battle of wits between the young man, his girlfriend, the businessman, and a private detective.
Lanthimos’ recent career pivot foregrounds Save the Green Planet in an interesting way. While his earlier work with The Lobster and Dogtooth both contained some dystopian elements, it was Poor Things that most leaned into a more sci-fi plot. Instead of a mere future setting, Poor Things combined a costume film with a sci-fi atmosphere of flying cars, reanimation, and futuristic landscapes.
Poor Things’ Best Picture Oscar Nomination Marks A Big Horror First
Poor Things has marked a big first in the horror genre with its Best Picture Oscar nomination, and it’s also joining a very special list.
In Poor Things, Lanthimos used this setting as a backdrop that added to but did not overwhelm the film’s focus on character. This tactic could work similarly well with Save the Green Planet, as it turns a story with the threat of aliens into a small-scale battle of wits between four main characters. The Korean version of Save the Green Planet has already gained a cult following, and it seems there is no better director than Lanthimos to bring the story to English-speaking audiences.
