Colombia’s “Queen of Cocaine” is in the sights of Hollywood filmmakers.
The history of Griselda Blanco, known throughout the mafia world as the the Queen or “Godmother” of Cocaine, has captivated some of the biggest film directors in Hollywood, reported newspaper El Espectador.
The criminal history of one of Colombia’s first drug traffickers spread like wildfire after her assassination in Medellin Monday and more directors began investigating the Godmother’s life of crime and legend in the streets of the second largest city in the country.
Various projects have been brought to the table to tell the story of the woman who made over $600 million in the 1970’s by pioneering the creation of drug trafficking routes to the United States.
According to U.S. news sources, directors have even contemplated the possibility of doing a television series of the Queen of Cocaine on the major network HBO.
Among some of the bigger film studios interested is Paramount, with Mark Wahlberg directing. The actor himself confirmed that he was interested during a recent interview he gave on MTV. Wahlberg also indicated that actress Jennifer Lopez was very keen on playing the role, and even had hopes of receiving an Oscar if the movie became a success.
Newspaper El Espectador reminds readers that part of Blanco’s life had already been reflected in the 2008 documentary “Cocaine Cowboys II” in which the drug queen’s ex-boyfriend Charles Cosby revealed details about the mafia lifestyle of Blanco and her legendary status among the depressed neighborhoods of Medellin.
Cosby only added to Hollywood’s intentions of taking advantage of Blanco’s character to tell her story in a movie that is expected to start shooting within the next year.
Blanco was part of the Medellin drug cartel between 1970 and 1980, and was thought to be the mentor of the most powerful and feared drug lord Pablo Escobar, who she allegedly introduced to the world of cocaine.
The Cartagena-born drug trafficker, 69, was killed Monday by two hitmen on a motorcycle in the neighborhood of Belen in western Medellin, where she had supposedly been living a low-profile life since her return from serving 20 years in a U.S. prison.
Blanco was allegedly one of the first to introduce the concept of these “sicarios,” hitmen on motorbikes who she sent out to assassinate her enemies, and ultimately killed her while she was at a butcher shop.