Columbia Pictures' upcomingAnacondareboot just slithered a bit closer to our screens. Fresh offthe Oscar winof his most recent film,I’m Still Here, Brazilian actorSelton Melloshared via an Instagram post that filming had wrapped on the star-studded new horror flick from directorTom Gormican. Included with the news was a photo of the star alongsidePaul RuddandJack Black, standing together and relaxing on a boat following the completion of the shoot. In a heartfelt, translated caption, he called them “great actors” and “amazing people” while hailing their clash with the titular giant snake as “an unforgettable experience.” Their journey to the jungle remains in line to hit theaters on Christmas Day.
Plot details forAnacondaare still being kept tightly under wraps, though Mello reiterated in his post that this film won’t be a remake of the1997Jennifer Lopezcult classic, but rathera reimaginingof the snake’s attack. The film promises something new and reportedly a little lighter than its predecessor, which followed a documentary crew on an expedition with a snake hunter to track down the legendarily massive serpent in the Amazon Rain Forest. The end of filming in Queensland, Australia lined up just right with the start of the 97th Academy Awards, which Mello flew to directly afterward to join theI’m Still Hereteam in receiving Best International Feature. Following that success,Anacondawill mark his English-language film debut.
In addition to Rudd and Black, Mello joined a boatload of stars inAnaconda, all of whom he had positive things to say about. He appears in the film opposite “new friends"Daniela Melchior,Steve Zahn, andThandiwe Newton. The whole group was announced last month in a song that Mello, Rudd, and Blackperformed in a behind-the-scenes video, highlighting the sort of fun atmosphere the horror reboot is trying to build under Gormican. The director reunited with hisThe Unbearable Weight of Massive TalentandBeverly Hills Cop: Axel FcollaboratorKevin Ettento pen the creature feature.
Columbia Pictures Has Been Hunting for an ‘Anaconda’ Reboot for Years
Rebooting theAnacondafranchise has been on Columbia’s mind since 2020. Originally,Snow White and the Huntsman’sEvan Daughertywas tapped to pen what will be the sixth installment in the series, though it wouldn’t be until last year that things kicked into high gear. The new team has a lot to live up to after the original giant snake flickbecame a campy success. Though it scored only a 41% score from critics and 24% from audiences onRotten Tomatoes, it also grossed $136.8 million at the box office under the direction ofLuis Llosawith a list of 90s icons in tow for the terrifying trip to the Amazon, including Lopez,Owen Wilson,Ice Cube, andJon Voight.
Anacondaslithers into theaters on December 25. Check out Mello’s post and behind-the-scenes image above, and stay tuned here at Collider for more updates on the film as they come out.
