Columbia Pictures has revealed the cast for its upcoming comedic reimagining of the 1997 horror classic Anaconda. The film, directed by Tom Gormican, will star Paul Rudd and Jack Black in lead roles, with Thandiwe Newton, Steve Zahn, Ione Skye, and Selton Mello joining the ensemble.
The new version of Anaconda departs from the original’s premise of a National Geographic crew hunting for a giant, deadly snake. The story will follow a group of childhood friends facing mid-life crises who embark on a quest to remake their favorite film from youth. Their adventure takes them to the rainforest, where they find themselves battling natural disasters, massive snakes, and dangerous criminals.
Black will play an ex-director-turned-wedding videographer, while Rudd will portray an actor whose Hollywood career is fading. Newton and Zahn will join them as other childhood friends on the ill-fated journey. Mello, making his English-language debut, will portray a Brazilian animal wrangler, and Skye will play Black’s wife.
The movie is currently filming in Australia, supported by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy. The film is set for a December 25, 2025, release.
Newton, who won an Emmy for Westworld, is also part of the voice cast for Mufasa: The Lion King. Zahn, known for his role in The White Lotus, will next appear in Hulu’s Chad Powers. Mello, a prominent Brazilian actor, stars in the political drama I’m Still Here, which has gained recognition in the awards race. Skye has recently appeared in Netflix’s Beef and NBC’s La Brea and Good Girls.
Produced by Fully Formed, the film promises an exciting mix of action, humor, and adventure with a unique twist on the iconic Anaconda saga.