Jackass Forever director Jeff Tremaine has a very interesting new documentary feature lined up, set to focus on (among other things) the story behind the theft of the Buzzy audio-animatronic from EPCOT’s former Wonders of Life pavilion.
What’s Happening:
- According to Deadline, director Jeff Tremaine is producing Stolen Kingdom, a documentary film chronicling the 30-year history of wrongdoing and debauchery at Walt Disney World, and how it led to the theft of an audio- animatronic valued at almost $500,000 on the black market.
- First-time filmmakers Joshua Bailey and Sam Fraser of White Lake are directing.
- Tremaine is producing through his Gorilla Flicks banner.
- Stolen Kingdom will seemingly have a major focus on the story of Patrick Spikes, the former Walt Disney World Cast Member who snuck around backstage stealing costume pieces, signs, and manuals and later sold them on eBay.
- In 2020, Spikes pleaded no contest to dealing stolen property. He was required to do 250 hours of community service and pay $25,308 in restitution, which according to court records, $6,703 went to Disney and $10,700 to NBA Player Robin Lopez.
- Lopez is an admitted fan of the Disney Parks and bought items that he thought were legitimately acquired from Spikes on eBay, including the costume pieces of the notoriously missing Buzzy animatronic and a sign featuring General Knowledge from Cranium Command at EPCOT, a sign from The Great Movie Ride, and a Cast Member costume.
- When pressed for information, NBA Player Robin Lopez had no further information regarding the whereabouts of the missing Buzzy animatronic, and Patrick Spikes denies that he was the one that stole it, addressing his own size versus the size of the animatronic, saying “it’d be ridiculous to steal a 300 pound animatronic.”
What They’re Saying:
- Stolen Kingdom producer Jeff Tremaine said: “Josh and Sam somehow found me and introduced me to this story I found so compelling. I was inspired by not only this story, but by these young filmmakers. Having been a part of some Disneyland misbehavior, I’m excited to be involved in this.”
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