It has been reported that Jack Black and Paul Rudd are currently in early negotiations to star in the reboot of the 1997 horror film “Anaconda,” previously headlined by Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube. However, no deals have been finalized yet. Compared to the original, the new movie is not intended to be a direct remake.
The script for the reboot is being co-written by Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten, with Gormican set to direct the film. Reports suggest that the reboot will incorporate comedic elements and will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, a subsidiary of Sony.
According to sources, the project has been in development for some time. In January 2020, it was revealed that the reboot will be more of a reimagining, with the studio aiming for a similar impact to that of the campy shark film “The Meg,” which grossed over $530 million at the box office in 2018.
The original “Anaconda” was released in April 1997 and featured Jennifer Lopez in a leading role, shortly after her breakout performance in “Selena.” The film also starred Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, Jonathan Hyde, and Owen Wilson. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it was a commercial success, earning $136.8 million and achieving cult status over the past 27 years.
The success of the original film led to the creation of three more horror films, with the first being released in theaters and the subsequent ones going straight to video: “Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid” (2004), “Anaconda 3: Offspring” (2008), “Anacondas: Trail of Blood” (2009), and “Lake Placid vs. Anaconda” (2015).
This potential reboot marks Jack Black’s first film project following the cancellation of his band Tenacious D’s tour. The decision to cancel the tour was made after a controversial joke by his bandmate Kyle Gass regarding the shooting incident at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. However, Black indicated at the “Borderlands” premiere in Los Angeles that Tenacious D would not be disbanded permanently, stating, “I love Tenacious D… We had to take a break, but I love the D. Everybody takes a break sometimes. We’ll be back.”