As much as the premise and pitch for Cocaine Bear reads like a B-movie (the B is for bear), the marketing drive behind it continually snaps us back to the reality that it’s got the confidence and backing of a big distributor. In this case, Universal.
This was most recently evidenced by the reveal that the titular hopped-up black bear is getting its own Funko Pop:
As cute as these collectibles tend to be, the big fuzzy beast with a little white something-something on its nose definitely hasn’t been reduced to a Care Bear. It’s got blood splattered across its face, and is cradling a severed foot – how quaint.
Another marketing driver ahead of Cocaine Bear’s imminent release includes an oddly-fun tie-in video game that kind of plays like Pac-Man (with mounds of cocaine and unsuspecting victims instead of pellets and ghosts).
Finally, if all of the above wasn’t enough of a hint that Cocaine Bear means business, perhaps the fact that the visual effects team that brought the mythical bear to life worked on some random movie about blue people on a faraway planet is. Maybe you’ve heard of it, but we can’t remember its name.
The movie isn’t even out yet, and there’s sequel chatter going on. Most would think that such franchises would ease into the most ludicrous pitches, but you may be interested to know that the phrase ‘Cocaine Bear in Space’ is already being thrown around.
Cocaine Bear will rampage its way into your local theater on Feb. 24, 2023.