Cocaine Bear Screenwriter, Jimmy Warden, recently claimed that the movie was nearly shut down after the producers of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse made a demand despite the potential backlash. The R-rated action-comedy is loosely based on the true story of a black bear who died after ingesting a mountain of cocaine in 1985 from a botched drug smuggling operation.
Warden stumbled upon the story while scrolling through Twitter, and knew he had to turn it into a twisted fantasy. And twisted it certainly is. The film features a photo-realistic, cocaine-addicted black bear, and a scene where two 12-year-olds dare each other to try cocaine.
From A Tweet To A Script
Warden sent his script to Lord Miller, the production company founded by filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, which is known for making movies that delightfully defy conventions. However, Warden had zero expectation that his script would ever make it to theaters.
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Warden admits that he made the script overly violent on purpose. He believes that at a certain point, violence can become so messed up that you can’t help but laugh, and it becomes its own genre. While the violence in Cocaine Bear may cross the line, Warden believes that it doesn’t alienate the audience.
“I made it overly violent on purpose. I’m not sure how much of a gore fan you are, but at a certain point you cross the line and it becomes so messed up that you can’t help but laugh. It’s not the fringe, pit-of-your-stomach sort of violence; it becomes its own genre in a certain way. This is certainly not the first movie to do that. But I think that Liz executed in a way that this movie definitely crosses the line in terms of gore, but I don’t think it really alienates the audience.”
Warden remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the demand but did reveal that the producers wanted to make changes that could have caused a massive backlash.
“Yeah. If I’m being completely honest — maybe I shouldn’t say it — I never thought anybody was going to make this movie. When you have a script, you want to do anything to get people to read it. So there was never any question in my mind that the movie would be called “Cocaine Bear.” I think that if you asked me back then I would have been like, if it ever gets made, I assume people are probably going to want to change the name. But Universal never did.”
Despite the potential controversy, Warden stuck to his guns, ensuring that the movie remained true to his vision. And it seems that he made the right decision, as Universal picked up the film, keeping the original title, Cocaine Bear.
Cocaine Bear Is A Must Watch
The movie has a $35 million budget, with most of it going to Weta FX to create the incredible special effects for the bear. Warden himself has already shot his directorial debut, Borderline, starring his wife, Samara Weaving. But he’s not done with Cocaine Bear just yet, seeing a promising future for the R-rated action-comedy.
But where does this leave us? Is Cocaine Bear the new standard for Hollywood movies? Will we see more twisted fantasies based on bizarre news stories? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure, Warden has proven that sometimes, it pays to stick to your guns and fight for your vision.
It’s refreshing to see a filmmaker who is unafraid to push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable. In a world where everything is sanitized for mass consumption, Cocaine Bear stands out as a bold and daring movie that isn’t afraid to be different.
And let’s not forget about Elizabeth Banks, who directed the film. Banks has always been an advocate for female filmmakers, and Cocaine Bear is no exception. The movie is a testament to her talent and her ability to bring out the best in her actors.
Cocaine Bear is a must-see movie for anyone who loves action, comedy, and gore. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re willing to embrace the twisted and grotesque, then you won’t be disappointed. Jimmy Warden has proven that he’s a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
Cocaine Bear will hit theatres on February 24, 2023.
