‘Anaconda’ Re-Imagining in the Works with Jack Black and Paul Rudd in Early Talks to Star

Jack Black and Paul Rudd are in early talks to star in Columbia Pictures’ re-imagining of “Anaconda” from writer-director Tom Gormican.

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Gormican, who helmed the Nicolas Cage-starring meta movie “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” and penned “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” co-wrote and will direct the new “Anaconda” movie, which is said to put a more comedic spin on the serpentine story. Kevin Etten is the co-writer.

Details about the project are hazy, but the film is not a remake of 1997’s “Anaconda,” which saw Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson and Ice Cube as a National Geographic film crew taken hostage by an unhinged hunter (Jon Voight) on his quest to capture the world’s largest and deadliest snake. The thriller was a surprise hit, earning $136 million at the global box office and spawning four sequels.

Gormican’s film takes a meta-turn. It is reportedly focused on a group of friends who are facing mid-life crises and set off to remake their favorite movie from their youth. But when they head into the jungle, things get real quickly. It’s not confirmed who Black and Rudd will play, but two of the lead characters are described as a director moonlighting as a wedding videographer and an actor whose career peak was a stint on a cop show.

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Brad Fuller and Andrew Form’s Fully Formed is producing the project, which has been in development for some time. Earlier this week, Variety exclusively reported that Form (who produced all three films in the “A Quiet Place” franchise) inked a first-look deal with Sony division Screen Gems. Black and Rudd are also closely aligned with Sony thanks to the hit “Jumanji” and “Ghostbusters” franchises, respectively.

Black is repped by Sloane Offer and Ocean Avenue. Rudd is repped by UTA and Lighthouse Management. Gormican is repped by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment.

The studio had no comment on the casting news, first reported by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.

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