Elizabeth Banks had a great experience working with Ray Liotta on her film “Cocaine Bear” before his tragic death in May 2022 at age 67.
A synopsis for the upcoming flick, which is inspired by a true story, reads, “An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converge in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.”
Banks tells Variety that although she “definitely took gore out” after seeing the first full cut of the film, she didn’t take much out.
She explains how she took particular care with a scene between the cocaine bear and the film’s real villain, a drug dealer played by Liotta.
The late star passed away in his sleep just a week after he rerecorded his dialogue with Banks, the magazine shares.
“He came to Ireland with the best attitude,” an emotional Banks recalls.
“He had a great time. He came for ADR and saw the film, and was like, ‘Oh, my God, the bear looks so good!’”
Liotta stars in the flick alongside actors including O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Margo Martindale and Alden Ehrenreich.
After news of Liotta’s death was revealed, Banks shared an emotional post:
“Cocaine Bear” hits theatres on Feb. 24.
