Universal Pictures has just released a new official poster for Cocaine Bear, an upcoming thriller that just might be the craziest movie of 2023 if its title is any indication. Inspired by the true story of a bear in the wilderness who overdosed after consuming a vast amount of the titular drug, Cocaine Bear is directed by Elizabeth Banks and features late actor Ray Liotta in one of his final roles.
It’s coming to theaters on Feb. 24, 2023, and for an early sneak peek, check out the new poster below.
Don’t coke the bear. #CocaineBear pic.twitter.com/3FmY8WmAdv
— Cocaine Bear (@cocainebear) November 28, 2022
Jimmy Warden penned the screenplay for Cocaine Bear, while Banks also produced with Max Handelman, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Aditya Sood, and Brian Duffield. Along with Liotta, the cast includes Keri Russell (The Americans), O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones), Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), and Margo Martindale (Justified).
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Full plot details haven’t been divulged for the film, but the story is heavily inspired by an incident that happened in 1985. In December of that year, a drug smuggler traveling by plane had thrown out a large amount of cocaine above the Kentucky wilderness as the aircraft was carrying too much weight. The cocaine was later recovered along with the remains of a 175-pound black bear that had apparently consumed most of the stash before dying of an overdose. The film will take some creative liberties with the story by imagining the bear going on a vicious rampage while under the influence.
In a previous interview with the New York Times, Banks spoke about how the true story that Cocaine Bear is based on was begging for a movie to be made about it. She stressed how the title alone was enough to hook the attention of many filmgoers, noting that she would have refused to direct the film if Universal Pictures hadn’t promised her that the title would remain unchanged.
“It’s a fun conversation piece inspired by this insane true event from 1985 and an opportunity to cut through a little noise,” Banks said. “The title alone! I was clear with Universal. I made them make sure that we could use the title in America. I was like, I don’t want to direct this if you’re going to tell me it’s going to be called Bear in the Woods.”
Cocaine Bear will be released on Feb. 24, 2023.
