Box Office Killers
Ricin is used frequently in popular culture and has become the poison of choice for would-be assassins and murderers. In the comedy, The Interview, Dave Skylark (James Franko) and Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) attempt to use a transdermal strip containing ricin to expose North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un to the deadly toxin. However, in the nature of comedy films, everything goes horribly wrong and Dave and Aaron are forced to improvise when they lose the transdermal strips.
The Interview caused an intense negative response from North Korea and from “The Guardians of Peace,” resulting in a great degree of controversy that lead to the eventual delay and cancellation of the film's theatrical release.
The Interview caused an intense negative response from North Korea and from “The Guardians of Peace,” resulting in a great degree of controversy that lead to the eventual delay and cancellation of the film's theatrical release.
Ricin is also used frequently by anti-hero Walter White in the incredibly popular television show Breaking Bad. White uses the deadly toxin multiple times in seasons 2, 4, and 5, each time using a different delivery method. Initially, the ricin was added to methamphetamine, in the hopes that White’s distributor would test the batch and be killed. Then in the fourth season, ricin is again produced, but not used until season five, where White then uses it to successfully kill his rivals.
Breaking Bad and The Interview are likely the most well-known uses of ricin in popular culture, but the deadly toxin has been used in shows such as The Mentalist and even in Grey’s Anatomy. We believe that ricin's widespread use in popular culture is a result of its potent toxicity and relative accessibility compared to similarly leathal substances
Breaking Bad and The Interview are likely the most well-known uses of ricin in popular culture, but the deadly toxin has been used in shows such as The Mentalist and even in Grey’s Anatomy. We believe that ricin's widespread use in popular culture is a result of its potent toxicity and relative accessibility compared to similarly leathal substances