Elizabeth Banks Defends Scene Showing 12-Year-Olds Doing Drugs In New ‘Cocaine Bear’ Movie

There’s been a lot of hype leading up to the release of the new Elizabeth Banks film, “Cocaine Bear,” The director now addresses one sensitive scene that involves children taking hard drugs.

The 48-year-old Star The scene was discussed during a a href=”https://variety.com/2023/film/features/elizabeth-banks-cocaine-bear-gory-1235515340/”>interview Variety admitting that it was “controversial” Yet, it is necessary to write the script.

“It was definitely controversial. There were conversations about, ‘should we age up these characters?’ We all kind of held hands and we were like, ‘Guys, they’ve got to be 12.’ It’s their innocence being tested,” She said. “That’s what was interesting to me about that scene.”

Christopher Miller, the producer, agreed that 12-year-olds were included in their production. 

“It’s the naïveté of the kids that makes it okay. It’s what makes it so tense and funny. It doesn’t work if they’re teenagers,” He stated. “It has to be that age where you don’t know anything, but you want to pretend like you do.”

The upcoming movie release is a big deal with moviegoers “Cocaine Bear.” The film is based upon the true story A 175-pound black bear died from an overdose after taking cocaine. The cocaine was reportedly thrown out of the plane by a drug smuggler in 1985. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, the bear was found with 40 open containers that contained cocaine in its vicinity.

Filmmaker David Leitch will have a lot of freedom in the film, which depicts the bear on a wild hunt for cocaine. This unique and unusual premise is sure to get potential viewers excited about seeing something new. Banks said to the publication she wanted a “muscular and masculine” Film and “break down some of the mythology around what kinds of movies women are interested in making.”

Banks stated that she wanted to keep the title provocative in order to attract more viewers. “I lived through [the 2008 comedy] ‘Zach and Miri Make a Porno,’ and the title was a problem,” She said. “But I think ‘Zach and Miri Make a Porno’ now would be like, ‘Whatever.’ I don’t really think anyone would even shy away from it. Because words don’t matter anymore. Words really don’t matter anymore.”

The actress also told Variety she has never personally tried cocaine because she’s a “goody two shoes.”

“Cocaine Bear” Premieres in Theaters February 24,