LOS ANGELES, Jan 18: British actress Thandiwe Newton and “Silo” star Steve Zahn are set to star in Columbia Pictures’ comedic reimagining of the 1997 horror film “Anaconda”.
As reported by entertainment news outlet The Hollywood Reporter, they will join actors Paul Rudd and Jack Black in the cast.
Selton Mello, known for his role in the acclaimed Brazilian film “I’m Still Here”, will also make his English-language debut in this film, alongside actress Ione Skye.
Tom Gormican, director of the Nicolas Cage meta-film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”, will co-write the screenplay with collaborator Kevin Etten and will also direct the project.
The plot focuses on a group of friends grappling with mid-life crises who decide to remake their favorite childhood movie. Their adventure takes them to the rainforest, where they must battle natural disasters, giant snakes, and dangerous criminals.
Jack Black will portray a once-prominent director now working as a wedding videographer, while Paul Rudd will play an actor whose past role on a cop show is fading, along with his Hollywood aspirations.
Originally directed by Luis Llosa, the 1997 “Anaconda” followed a documentary crew in the Amazon as they encountered an obsessive hunter seeking a legendary anaconda.
The film featured a cast that included Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, and Owen Wilson. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it gained a cult following for its creature horror and thrilling jungle setting, grossing USD 135 million against a budget of USD 45 million.
The franchise has since expanded to include several sequels, such as “Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid” (2004), “Anaconda 3: Offspring” (2008), “Anacondas: Trail of Blood” (2009), and the crossover “Lake Placid vs. Anaconda” (2015). (PTI)
