Everything We Know About Poor Things, Emma Stone's Reunion With Yorgos Lanthimos

Remember "The Favourite?" It feels like anyone who has seen that film counts it among their own personal favorites of 2018, if not one of their favorites in general. Director Yorgos Lanthimos is responsible for a large part of its brilliance, as well as the ingeniousness of his other insightfully weird films "Dogtooth," "The Lobster," and "The Killing of a Sacred Deer." But the film's success can be in large part pointed firmly toward Emma Stone's undeniably terrific work in the film, morphing herself into the mind of an 18th century obsessive determined to curry favor in any way she can. Needless to say, we've all been waiting with bated breath for Stone's next collaboration with Lanthimos, and we finally have it on the horizon with "Poor Things."

But that isn't the only upcoming collaboration Lanthimos has with Stone, which is interesting in and of itself. Their film "AND," which Lanthimos wrote alongside his "The Lobster" cowriter Efthymis Filippou, is also on the way, though with no release date announced despite filming having finished late last year. In any case, we have lots to look forward to in the Lanthimos camp.

Read on to find out more about when, where, and who to watch out for in "Poor Things."

"Poor Things" is set to be released by Searchlight Pictures on September 8, 2023. There's no word on future streaming information just yet, although it appears the film will premiere exclusively in theaters before hitting the home market.

Yorgos Lanthimos' film will open directly against two very different movies in the forms of Nia Vardalos' rom-com threequel "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" and "The Nun 2," a sequel to the 2018 "Conjuring" prequel/spinoff about the titular demonic entity (aka Valak). Given Lanthimos' reputation, there's a strong chance "Poor Things" will debut at either the 2023 Venice or Toronto International Film Festival, both of which will be underway by the time the film reaches theaters. 

"The Favourite," which was Lanthimos' most recent feature as a director, premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in 2018, where it took home multiple awards including the Grand Jury Prize. In light of this, the odds are strong the director and Emma Stone will return to Venice later this year.

"Poor Things" is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray. Moreover, it appears as though the film will definitely err on the side of science-fiction, which Yorgos Lanthimos has not really outwardly explored before. Some could argue a number of his previous films have a sci-fi edge (something like "The Lobster," in particular), but this one feels firmly set within the genre.

According to Searchlight Pictures, "Poor Things" centers on "the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter. Under Baxter's protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn, 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."

So far, Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef, and Willem Dafoe are confirmed to be part of the film's cast, as we've gotten stills with most of the actors from the movie. Stone will play Bella Baxter, the woman brought back to life, while Dafoe will play the "unorthodox" scientist who brought her back to life, Dr. Baxter. Additionally, Ruffalo is playing a lawyer with whom Bella runs away and falls in love with. Youssef's role has not yet been disclosed, but he can be seen in period clothing in a still with Stone. Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Margaret Qualley, Suzy Bemba, and Kathryn Hunter are also set to appear in the sci-fi romance.

"The Favourite" scribe Tony McNamara also wrote the script for "Poor Things," with Yorgos Lanthimos producing in addition to directing. Other producers on the film include Stone and her husband, David McCary, and Ali Herting (under their Fruit Tree Productions label), along with Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe.