Elizabeth Banks has been set to direct the adaptation of the thriller ‘Cocaine Bear’ for Universal Pictures.

Inspired by events that took place in Kentucky in 1985 which was published by The New York Times, the story unveiled the strange instance of a 175-pound black bear who had guzzled down the contents of a duffle bag filled with more than 70 pounds of cocaine that was dropped from an aeroplane by a local drug smuggler, Andrew Thornton. The bear was later found dead of an apparent drug overdose.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller will produce the project which was originally to be made by the team behind ‘Ready or Not’ Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett and Chad Villella. Lord Miller president Aditya Sood will also produce alongside Brian Duffield, Banks and Max Handelman via their Brownstone Productions banner.

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Plot details are being kept under wraps but filming is expected to commence in the summer.

Banks last directed the 2019 version of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ which starred Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska. She also starred in the movie. Banks was last seen in front of the camera in the TV series ‘Mrs America’.