Sony Pictures has released the trailer for its forthcoming horror comedy, Anaconda, which serves as a meta-reboot of the beloved 1997 cult classic. With an amusing premise and a star-studded cast that includes Paul Rudd and Jack Black, the film is set to hit theaters on Christmas Day.
(Note: Spoilers for the original film follow.)
The original Anaconda became a hallmark of the B-movie genre, featuring an impressive ensemble cast and elevated production standards. The plot revolves around a documentary crew—comprised of stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Eric Stoltz, Jonathan Hyde, and Owen Wilson—who venture into the Amazon rainforest in search of a lost Indigenous tribe. They encounter a desperate Paraguayan snake hunter, Serone (played by Jon Voight with an infamous accent), who coerces them into assisting him in capturing a massive 25-foot green anaconda, which he believes he can sell for a fortune.
However, the anaconda has its own agenda, leading to a series of gruesome events as it devours crew members. The crew’s struggle for survival is complicated by Serone, whose obsession with capturing the snake puts everyone in peril, ultimately culminating in his own demise at the jaws of a formidable queen anaconda.
Despite receiving lukewarm reviews from critics, the original Anaconda performed respectably at the box office, raking in approximately $136 million worldwide. Over the years, it has gained a cult following, often appreciated for its campy charm. The film even garnered six Razzie nominations, including for Worst Screen Couple, highlighting its so-bad-it’s-good appeal.
The upcoming 2025 version of Anaconda takes a different approach, intentionally infusing humor throughout the narrative. The official synopsis reads:
A midlife crisis propels Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd) to the Amazon rainforest, where they aim to remake their favorite childhood film. Unexpectedly, they find themselves in peril when a real giant anaconda disrupts their production, transforming their comedic endeavor into a life-threatening ordeal. The movie they aspire to create could prove fatal.
In this iteration, Doug is depicted as a wedding videographer, while Griff takes on the role of a background actor. The cast also features Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn as Claire and Kenny, friends of Doug and Griff; Selton Mello as Santiago Braga; Daniela Melchior as Ana Almeida; and Ione Skye as Doug’s wife, Malie.
The trailer captures the moment when Doug bursts into Griff’s home, enthusiastically proclaiming, “Let’s do it. Let’s reboot Anaconda.” Their lifelong dream ignites the spark for this adventurous undertaking. Faced with a budget of $2.5 million, however, they qualify only for a loan of $9,400. Their solution? To film the project “indie-style,” using a shoestring budget. Their needs are straightforward: a riverboat, a script, a snake handler, and, of course, a real snake instead of cheap animatronics. Griff and Claire take the lead roles, with Kenny behind the camera and Doug directing.
Challenges arise when Griff panics during a scene involving a snake and inadvertently kills the stunt snake, posing a significant problem for a film centered around such a creature. This prompts them to venture into the jungle to find a replacement, leading to situations far beyond their expectations. The trailer lightheartedly showcases the entire escapade, set to a sample of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”
Fans can look forward to Anaconda’s theatrical release on December 25, 2025.
