Yorgos Lanthimos, the Greek auteur filmmaker, is making waves again with his latest cinematic venture, “Poor Things.” Known for his thought-provoking narratives and quirky storytelling, Lanthimos has created a genre unto himself. With a stellar cast and a highly intriguing premise, “Poor Things” is setting the stage to be a significant entry in modern cinema. Here’s a deep dive into all we know about this eagerly anticipated film.

Release Date of Poor Things

Originally slated for a September 8, 2023 release, “Poor Things” was delayed by three months due to ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The new release date is December 8, 2023, giving audiences a dark, twisted tale for the holiday season. However, for those lucky enough to attend the 80th Venice Festival running from August 30 to September 9, the film will have its world premiere. This is an important festival for Lanthimos; it’s where his global recognition took off. Venice’s proclivity for avant-garde and arthouse cinema makes it a perfect fit for a Lanthimos premiere.

Is There a Trailer for Poor Things?

In true Lanthimos fashion, the trailers for “Poor Things” offer just enough to intrigue without giving too much away. The thirty-second teaser, released on May 11, 2023, featured fish-eye lens shots, eccentric dance moves from Emma Stone, and a curious slap delivered to Mark Ruffalo. A more extended official trailer was launched on June 8, 2023, which shed a bit more light on Stone’s character and her not-so-in-sync body and brain. The trailers set the tone for a movie that is bound to be visually stimulating and intellectually challenging.

Who’s In the Cast of Poor Things?

Emma Stone reunites with Lanthimos for this project after their successful collaboration on “The Favourite.” Stone plays Bella Baxter, a character who undergoes an extraordinary transformation in the film. Supporting her are well-known figures like Willem Dafoe as Dr. Godwin Baxter, Mark Ruffalo as lawyer Duncan Wedderburn, and Christopher Abbott as Sir Aubrey de la Pole Blessington. The ensemble cast also includes comedians Ramy Youssef and Jarod Carmichael, adding another layer of complexity to what already promises to be an intricate narrative.

Who Is Making Poor Things?

The film is a Yorgos Lanthimos production through and through, directed by the man himself with a screenplay by Tony McNamara, who previously collaborated with him on “The Favourite.” The director of photography, Robbie Ryan, is reuniting with Lanthimos after their work on the same film. Editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis, a constant in Lanthimos’ projects, is also on board. Emma Stone wears multiple hats, both as the lead actress and one of the producers, alongside Ed Guiney, Ali Herting, Andrew Lowe, and Dave McCary.

What’s the Plot of Poor Things?

“Poor Things” is an adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel and is essentially a re-imagining of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” The film focuses on Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by Dr. Godwin Baxter after a tragic end. Her brain is replaced by that of an infant, leading her into a life of complex emotional and psychological challenges. The narrative structure, presented through various unreliable narrators in the novel, is something cinema-goers will be interested to see adapted on the big screen. Expect themes of identity, social inequalities, feminism, and human relationships to be explored through Lanthimos’ unique lens.

When and Where Was Poor Things Filmed?

The movie was shot in Hungary from August to December 2021. The choice of location might hint at a European aesthetic and feel that could align with the Victorian era, where the story is originally set. Given Lanthimos’ artistic sensibilities, expect a visually arresting representation of not just the characters but also the settings and landscapes.

Poor Things” is teeing up to be a rich cinematic experience, packed with star power, intellectual challenges, and the uniqueness that only a Yorgos Lanthimos film can bring. Mark your calendars and prepare for another mind-bending journey this December.

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