Poor Things is the latest film from director Yorgos Lanthimos, who previously worked on critically acclaimed movies like The Lobster and The Favorite. Based on the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray, Poor Things follows the mad adventures of Bella Baxter, a woman reanimated by a scientist. The film features a star-studded cast, with Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe in its lead roles.
Following her reanimation at the hands of Dr. Godwin Baxter (Dafoe), Bella (Stone) yearns to experience the outside world. This longing leads to her running away with Duncan Wedderburn (Ruffalo), who takes her on a lavish world tour where Bella constantly evolves and matures in both meaningful and hilarious ways. Since its release, Poor Things has garnered massive critical praise, which commends the film on its dark humor and stellar lead performances.
Screen Rant interviewed Poor Things stars Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo at the red carpet premiere in New York City to discuss reanimation and funny moments on set.
Emma Stone Talks Poor Things
Screen Rant: As someone who played a character who was reanimated, I’m curious if you would reanimate anyone from history.
Emma Stone: Oh, God.
Who would it be?
Emma Stone: Whoa.
It doesn’t have to be because they were important. Could just be because you think it’d be funny.
Emma Stone: I’d reanimate my grandfather, yeah. [Laughs]
That’s the wholesome answer.
Emma Stone: Yeah, just want to hang out with him.
Mark Ruffalo Talks Poor Things
Screen Rant: The plot of this movie has me wondering: if you could reanimate any historical figure, who would it be?
Mark Ruffalo: Oh, God. I don’t know. That’s so hard.
It doesn’t have to be because they were important.
Mark Ruffalo: Just any historical character? I guess Albert Einstein.
That’s a solid choice, I think.
Mark Ruffalo: Yeah, thanks. Yeah, he’d be cool. I would like to see his view on the world right now.
This whole film is incredibly funny. I’m curious if there are any scenes that stand out to you where everyone kept breaking and it was really hard to get through it.
Mark Ruffalo: Oh, God, there was so many days. Oh, the scene when I proposed to Emma in the hallway, we were laughing so hard. And I don’t know why, because it’s a serious scene, but we were just bursting out in laughter. And then the scene when I tried to throw her overboard, I was laughing so hard doing that scene and I can hear Yorgos laughing so hard over by the camera. Those are two scenes that were really hard to keep a straight face for.
More About Poor Things
From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Check out our other Poor Things interviews:
- Mark Ruffalo & Willem Dafoe
- Emma Stone
- Ramy Youssef
- Tony McNamara
- Holly Waddington
- Robbie Ryan
- James Price & Shona Heath
Poor Things
Poor Things is a sci-fi romance film from The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos. The story focuses on the bizarre and fantastical world of Bella Baxter after a scientist named Dr. Godwin Baxter brings her back to life. The film is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray.
- Release Date
- September 8, 2023
- Director
- Yorgos Lanthimos
- Cast
- Emma Stone , Willem Dafoe , Mark Ruffalo , Ramy Youssef , Jerrod Carmichael , Christopher Abbott
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 141 Minutes
- Genres
- Comedy , Romance , Sci-Fi
- Writers
- Tony McNamara
- Story By
- Alasdair Gray
- Studio(s)
- Film4 , TSG Entertainment , Element Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Searchlight Pictures
