Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn Join Columbia’s Comedic Reimagining of Anaconda

by Annika January 17, 2025

Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn, known for their roles in Westworld and Silo respectively, have been cast in Columbia’s comedic reimagination of the 1997 horror movie Anaconda. The film, which features Paul Rudd and Jack Black as leads, has also added Selton Mello and Ione Skye to the cast. Directed by Tom Gormican, the story follows a group of friends in mid-life crises who decide to remake their favorite movie from their youth. The production is currently shooting in Australia and is set to be released on December 25. Newton is represented by WME and Independent Talent, while Zahn is represented by UTA, Principal Entertainment LA, and Sloane Offer. Mello, who hails from Brazil, stars in the film I’m Still Here and is represented by ColorCreative and GGSSC. Skye, known for her work in Say Anything and Zodiac, is represented by Buchwald, CP Artist Management, and Management Production Entertainment.

Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn Join Columbia’s Comedic Reimagining of Anaconda

– Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn have joined the cast of Columbia’s comedic reimagining of the 1997 horror movie Anaconda.
– The new story follows a group of friends remaking their favorite movie from their youth, only to find themselves in a dangerous situation in the rainforest.
– The film is currently shooting in Australia and is set to be released on December 25th.

Thandiwe Newton, best known for her role in HBO’s Westworld, and Silo actor Steve Zahn have joined the cast of Columbia’s upcoming film Anaconda. The movie is a comedic reimagining of the 1997 horror film that spawned a mini-franchise.

Also joining the cast are Selton Mello, who stars in the Brazilian awards season hopeful I’m Still Here, and Ione Skye. Mello will be making his English-language debut with this action comedy.

Tom Gormican, the director of Nicolas Cage’s meta movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, is co-writing the script with Kevin Etten and will also be directing the feature.

The original Anaconda movie starred Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight. It followed a National Geographic film crew hunting for the world’s largest and deadliest snake, only to find themselves in a dangerous situation.

According to sources, the new story revolves around a group of friends facing mid-life crises who decide to remake their favorite movie from their youth. They venture into the rainforest but soon find themselves in a fight for survival against natural disasters, giant snakes, and violent criminals.

Paul Rudd and Jack Black are set to star in the film, with Black playing a former director stuck in a job as a wedding videographer and Rudd portraying an actor whose Hollywood dreams are slipping away.

Newton and Zahn will play childhood friends of the main characters who join them on their ill-fated adventure. Mello will portray a Brazilian animal wrangler, while Skye will play Black’s wife.

The movie is currently being filmed in Australia with support from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy. It is being produced by Fully Formed, the banner run by Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, and is scheduled for release on December 25.

In addition to her work on Westworld, Newton is currently lending her voice to the animated film Mufasa: The Lion King. She is represented by WME and Independent Talent.

Zahn, who recently appeared in HBO’s The White Lotus, will next be seen in Hulu’s upcoming series Chad Powers alongside Glen Powell. He is represented by UTA, Principal Entertainment LA, and Sloane Offer.

Mello, a prominent actor in Brazil, stars opposite Fernanda Torres in Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here. The film has received critical acclaim and Torres won the Golden Globe for Best Actress. Mello is also a director, with one of his movies, The Clown, serving as Brazil’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 2013 Oscars. He is represented by ColorCreative and GGSSC.

Skye, known for her work in films like Say Anything and Zodiac, has been focusing on series work lately. She has appeared in shows like Netflix’s Beef, NBC’s La Brea, and NBC’s Good Girls. She is represented by Buchwald, CP Artist Management, and Management Production Entertainment.