If you’re familiar with “Snakes on a Plane,” you know it’s purely fictional, crafted with a memorable line by Samuel L. Jackson that became an internet sensation. Unlike that movie, “Cocaine Bear” is based on a bizarre true event: a bear that ingested a staggering amount of cocaine.
The film, directed by Elizabeth Banks and set for release in 2022, has a rather unusual premise. The story revolves around a bear that consumed approximately seventy pounds of cocaine from a botched drug drop in Georgia’s Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, according to reports from The Guardian. Tragically, after indulging in about $15 million worth of the drug, the bear met a grim fate.
In the short time before its demise, however, the Cocaine Bear may have been the most formidable creature on Earth, embodying sheer bear strength and perhaps even channeling the spirit of David Bowie. Now, this wild tale is being transformed into a “character-driven thriller inspired by true events that took place in Kentucky in 1985,” as Variety explains. We’re left to ponder if the film will delve into the bear’s legendary escapades or focus on the more grounded aspects of its backstory.
The Plot Thickens with a Drug Smuggler’s Misadventure
Cocaine Bear’s saga kicks off with the dubious actions of a drug smuggler, Andrew Thornton II—a former narcotics officer turned drug lord, who, alongside his karate instructor-turned-bodyguard Bill Leonard, flew to Colombia to pick up cocaine. Their plan to smuggle the drugs back to the U.S. went awry when they were pursued by law enforcement. In a desperate attempt to evade capture, they began dumping bags of cocaine from their plane.
Ultimately, both men parachuted from the aircraft, but while Leonard’s chute opened successfully, Thornton’s did not. He was later found dead in South Knoxville, equipped with cash, weapons, and a stash of Colombian cocaine.
The Cocaine Bear’s Journey After Death
After consuming the cocaine, Cocaine Bear’s life came to an end, but its story didn’t stop there. According to the Knoxville Sentinel News, a savvy individual had the bear taxidermied. Initially displayed at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, it was later put in storage during a wildfire. The bear was eventually stolen, leading to a series of bizarre ownership changes that included stops in a Nashville pawn shop and an appearance in a collection owned by country music star Waylon Jennings.
Eventually, Cocaine Bear found a home at a Chinese Medicine shop before being acquired by the apparel company Kentucky for Kentucky, where it now resides in the Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington. You can visit this peculiar attraction and even snag some Cocaine Bear merchandise.
What We Know About the Movie
Details about the film remain scarce, leaving us to speculate on its direction. Will it focus on the drug smugglers, or will it be an adventure of hikers facing off against Cocaine Bear? The potential for either comedic gold or a trainwreck akin to “Snakes on a Plane” hangs in the balance. Regardless of its execution, one thing is certain: the title alone—Cocaine Bear—has already piqued interest.
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In summary, the “Cocaine Bear” film is set to bring a wild and true story to life, blending elements of crime and humor. With a backdrop of drug smuggling and a bear’s bizarre fate, viewers are in for an entertaining ride, no matter how the story unfolds.