In Anaconda, Paul Rudd and Jack Black recreate... Anaconda.

      Anaconda tells the tale of two middle-aged men, portrayed by Paul Rudd and Jack Black, who decide to pursue a long-held dream: to remake the ’90s horror flick Anaconda.

      After their rented anaconda passes away, they venture into the jungle to find new snakes and stumble upon a massive anaconda, reminiscent of the film Anaconda.

      We are already excited about this movie. (If you can’t view the trailer above, treat yourself to watching it here.)

      The film carries the tagline, “it’s the movie they’re dying to remake,” and is directed and written by Tom Gormican, who previously explored a similar meta concept in the hilarious 2022 Nicolas Cage film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, where Cage plays himself and becomes embroiled in an adventure with Pedro Pascal.

      Anaconda also evokes the meta theme of another film featuring Jack Black, Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, where a group of pretentious actors heads to the jungle to shoot a war movie, only to find themselves facing real violence.

      Background on Anaconda

      The new Anaconda is set to release on Christmas Day — why not? — and features a cast that includes ​Steve Zahn, ​Thandiwe Newton, ​Daniela Melchior, and ​Selton Mello.

      In a charming allusion to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” — featuring the line “my anaconda don’t want none unless you got buns, hon” — the trailer for the new Anaconda showcases the opening riff of the song slowed down and repeated, akin to John Williams’ score for Stephen Spielberg’s Jaws.

      Can we just say? Brilliant.

      Interestingly, the film has not yet received a rating, suggesting lively internal discussions about the level of graphic content in its snake attacks.

      The original Anaconda, which debuted in 1997, was directed by Luis Llosa and featured Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, Jonathan Hyde, and Owen Wilson. It also had a meta element, telling the story of a documentary crew in pursuit of a legendary giant snake, which they ultimately locate.

      Although it received mixed reviews, it performed well at the box office, becoming a cult classic and spawning several sequels. Many of the cast members later rose to A-list status.

      It proudly holds a spot on our distinguished list of 12 Killer Animal Movies That Used Real Animals. Kudos to all involved.

      The new film is co-written by Kevin Etten, who also co-wrote Ghosted and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, among other projects, and is executive produced by Samson Mücke. It is produced by Gormican, Etten, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form.

      Anaconda will hit theaters on December 25 under Sony Pictures Entertainment.

      Main image: Paul Rudd and Jack Black in, you know, Anaconda.