June 19, 2007

Strange Wilderness: In Search of South American Bigfoot

Whatever happened to Strange Wilderness?

Strange Wilderness

I posted first about this way back in November 2005 and then again in July 2006, thinking it was going to be on television in 2006. See my posting here and David Pescovitz’s link at Boing Boing.

Directed by Fred Wolf, the actors include popular youthful and veteran stars, including Steve Zahn, Sheila Lussier, Justin Long, Alison Kay, Ernest Borgnine, Joan Jones, Allen Covert, Meg Wolf, Joe Don Baker, and Krista Allen.

Krista Allen

Krista Allen

The entire plot is about a television series that is trying to increase its ratings by going to South America to hunt for Bigfoot.

I thought the Sasquatch-like reports of the Andes’ Ucumar might be featured, if the writers were trying for anything authentic. As I mentioned then and in my field guide, the mountain Ucumar or Ucu look exactly like the boreal forest Sasquatch of North America.

I suppose at this point, just seeing the film released would be enough for the production team.

Strange Wilderness

Anyway, here’s the latest news I’ve seen on the project:

Justin Long

Justin Long

Dear Stacy: What has happened to Joe Don Baker? — D.F., San Pedro, Calif.

Dear D.F.: The actor still best remembered for his portrayal of Sheriff Buford Pusser in “Walking Tall” and for playing the anything-but-model CIA agent in the 007 films “GoldenEye” and “Tomorrow Never Dies” was seen as the governor in 2005’s big-screen “The Dukes of Hazzard.” He has a role in the feature comedy “Strange Wilderness,” which is awaiting a release date. Starring Steve Zahn, it’s about the team behind a failing wildlife show that, in a last-ditch attempt to grab ratings, heads to South America to look for Bigfoot.“Hollywood Exclusive” by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smithhere, Tuesday, June 19, 2007.

Joe Don Baker

Joe Don Baker

Perhaps Strange Wilderness has gone from plans it would be a feature film on television to a straight-to-DVD movie? Could the strength and popularity of Steve Zahn in recent movies and Justin Long as the “Mac Guy” now make this a future in-the-theaters major motion picture release?

Steve Zahn

Steve Zahn

The IMDb says the release date is 25 January 2008. Should we believe that?

Strange Wilderness

Loren Coleman About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015. Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.

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