Yorgos Lanthimos refused permission from the Acropolis to shoot ‘Bugonia’
Greek authorities have refused to give permission to Oscar-nominated director Yorgos Lanthimos to film his new movie, Bugonia, at the Acropolis.
The request was dismissed at a meeting held by the Central Archaeological Council, which controls the Acropolis complex, on April 1st. Lanthimos’ new movie is a remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet, and filming is currently underway. It stars the director’s frequent collaborators Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.
According to the Greek publication, Ekathimerini, the production company behind Bugonia, Either/Or Productions, requested permission from the Ministry of Culture to shoot scenes at the iconic cultural landmark on April 10th.
However, the production company also requested that public access to the Acropolis would be restricted for four days to allow time for filming and setting up which is a key reason why it was turned down.
Additionally, it’s also alleged that the graphic nature of the scene in question was another ground for the rejection, as Bugonia is believed to contain a post-apocalyptic ending.
The Central Archaeological Council are believed to have offered Either/Or Productions an opportunity to film at Filopappou Hill rather than the Acropolis, but this compromise wasn’t accepted.
Bugonia‘s synopsis reads: “Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.’
The movie is set for release on November 7th, 2025, in cinemas worldwide.
Bugonia marks the fifth consecutive film by Lanthimos to star Stone, who won an Oscar in 2024 for her performance in Poor Things. In a four-star review of Poor Things, Far Out said, “The heart of it is Emma Stone, playing the pivotal Baxter, and it’s clear that the very fact this movie exists is almost entirely down to the fact that Yorgos and Stone have found in each other a genuinely like-minded collaborator.”
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