The reboot of 1990s cult classic Anaconda has got new cast members, with The White Lotus star Steve Zahn joining the previously announced Paul Rudd, Jack Black and Daniela Melchior.
The remake, which was announced in August, will update the 1997 thriller, which followed a National Geographic crew and an unhinged hunter as they search for the world’s largest and deadliest snake.
With Rudd and Black being confirmed upon the project’s announcement, the pair now have some co-stars, with The Hollywood Reporter writing that Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Selton Mello and Ione Skye have all joined the cast.
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The reboot, which is said to be a “comedic reimagining”, will reportedly follow a group of friends facing midlife crises who are remaking their favourite movie from their youth. After venturing to the rainforest, they then find themselves in a fight for their lives against “natural disasters, giant snakes and violent criminals”.
Rudd and Black will reportedly play fading figures from Hollywood, whilst Zahn – who starred as Mark Mossbacher in the first season of The White Lotus – and Newton will play their childhood friends. Mello will play an animal wrangler, whilst Skye will play the wife of Black’s character.
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The project is being helmed by Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), with the director co-writing the script alongside Kevin Etten. Production is currently underway in Australia, with a prospective release date of December 25.
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The original film, which was directed by Luis Llosa, starred Jon Voight, Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Eric Stoltz and Jonathan Hyde in the lead roles, with the horror-thriller becoming a cult classic after grossing over $130 million at the box office.
The film was followed by three sequels in 2004, 2008 and 2009 respectively, with a fifth film – Lake Placid vs Anaconda – seeing the franchise crossover with another famous creature-feature horror series.
Anaconda is scheduled to be released on December 25.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
