Get ready for a hilarious and slithering return to the jungle. Comedic powerhouses Paul Rudd and Jack Black are headlining a fresh, comedic take on the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, marking their first proper starring collaboration. The film is set to hit screens on December 25, 2025.
A Long-Awaited Comedy Team-Up
While fans have seen the duo share brief scenes in past films like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Anaconda represents their first full-fledged project as co-leads. The mutual admiration between the two actors is palpable. Paul Rudd expressed he's "been a fan of Jack's since forever," while Jack Black humorously claimed fandom "since before we were even born."
The new story, co-written and directed by Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), pivots from pure horror to comedy. It follows lifelong friends Doug (Black) and Griff (Rudd), who team up with childhood pals Kenny (Steve Zahn) and Claire (Thandiwe Newton) to achieve a dream: remaking their favourite movie, which happens to be the original Anaconda.
Rock 'n' Roll Drives the Snake Hunt
Getting into character for this adventure required a specific soundtrack, quite different from Black's recent work. While filming Minecraft, he listened to Billy Joel to embody Steve the crafter. For Anaconda, however, he and Rudd needed something with more bite.
Black credits his driver, Phil (@rocknroll_phil on Instagram), with setting the rock-heavy tone for their commutes. "It was a lot of classic rock. Led Zeppelin was every Tuesday," Black revealed in a recent interview from Los Angeles. Rudd jumped in, noting Phil also broke out AC/DC's For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).
Black, a self-professed fan of the band's earlier era with late singer Bon Scott, named Walk All Over You from the 1979 Highway to Hell album as a personal favourite, even belting out a bit of the chorus. He praised guitarist Angus Young as a "genius" who has "come up with more riffs than probably anyone."
From Horror Legacy to Comedy Revival
The original Anaconda, released in 1997, was a horror-thriller featuring an ensemble cast including Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, and Eric Stoltz. The reboot reimagines the concept through a comedic lens, leveraging the unique talents of its new leading duo.
This project fulfills a long-standing wish for both actors to work together extensively. Their cameo as John Lennon (Rudd) and Paul McCartney (Black) in Walk Hard left Black hoping for another opportunity, which has now arrived in a major way. The film promises to blend nostalgia for the cult classic with the signature humour that has made Rudd and Black beloved figures in entertainment.
With its Christmas Day release, Anaconda is poised to offer audiences a dose of big laughs and high-energy adventure, driven by a classic rock soundtrack and the undeniable chemistry of its two leading men.
