Thandiwe Newton, who starred in HBO’s much-acclaimed Westworld, and White Lotus actor Steve Zahn have been swallowed up to star in Anaconda, a comedic reimagining of the 1997 Columbia Pictures horror movie that launched a snake-filled mini-franchise, including last years’ Chinese-language remake.
The actors join Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Selton Mello, and Ione Skye in the picture.
Black will play a former director now stuck as a wedding videographer, while Rudd plays an actor who did a stint on a cop show but sees his Hollywood dreams slipping away. Thandiwe Newton and Zahn are other childhood friends that join them in the adventure, while Mello will play an animal wrangler. Skye plays Black’s wife.
Tom Gormican, best known for directing the excellent Nicolas Cage meta comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, is co-writing with collaborator Kevin Etten, and will reportedly direct the feature. The original film starred Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube, and Donald J. Trump bestie Jon Voight, and followed a National Geographic film crew hunting the world’s largest and deadliest snake, only to find the tables turned on them.
Reports state that this reimagined Anaconda film involves a group of friends facing mid-life crises who are remaking their favourite movie from their youth. They head to the rainforest, only to find themselves in a fight for their lives against natural disasters, giant snakes, and violent criminals.