"Cocaine Bear" begins production

On3 imageby:Abbigale Harrison08/22/21

The Elizabeth Banks directed film starring Kentucky’s very own Cocaine Bear has begun production.

The Universal Pictures film, described as a “character-driven thriller” highlights the events of the infamous Bluegrass Conspiracy.

The Bluegrass Conspiracy

Kentucky native and blue blood Andrew Thornton II was found dead after jumping from a plane strapped with over $15 million worth of cocaine in 1985.

Thornton was also found with gold bars and was wearing Gucci loafers in a scene Hollywood would struggle to invent.

The cocaine was then found by an unlucky bear in the Tennessee forest where Thornton had jumped. Thus, the Cocaine Bear was born.

After housing almost 75 pounds in cocaine, the bear overdosed and became a folk legend.

The bear has seen many homes before his new residence on the silver screen. This includes being owned by country legend Waylon Jennings among other random owners.

After Jennings, Cocaine Bear found a home at Lexington’s own Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall. The Cocaine Bear, also known as Pablo Escobear, still resides there in his taxidermic form.

The Hollywood Bear

The wacky and true story caught the attention of actress Elizabeth Banks.

Banks then added producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord to the project. Miller and Lord are best known for producing films such as 21 Jump Street and Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse.

The film began production this past week in Dublin, Ireland with a star-studded cast including Keri Russell, Ray Liotta, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, among others.

It is not known which parts of the plot the film will follow from its predecessor and best-selling novel, The Bluegrass Conspiracy. The novel highlights not only the plight of Thornton and the Lexington police, but the disappearance of 24-year old Lexington native Melanie Flynn.

Flynn disappeared in 1977 on her way home from her job at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) headquarters in Lexington. She was never seen again. Flynn is rumored to be connected to Thornton and in turn, the Cocaine Bear.

“Cocaine Bear” does not yet have a release date, but is predicted to premiere sometime in 2022.

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2024-03-28