Anaconda Reboot Trailer: Jack Black and Paul Rudd Go Full Meta

The long-awaited first trailer for the new Anaconda reboot has finally arrived, and it’s nothing like fans expected.

Instead of a straight retelling of the 1997 cult horror classic, this fresh take turns the premise on its head: the film is about Jack Black and Paul Rudd trying – and often failing – to reboot Anaconda itself.

The trailer leans heavily into meta-comedy. We see Black and Rudd as two friends who dream of reviving their favorite monster movie but quickly discover that financing a big-budget production is harder than expected. Their low-cost version spirals into chaos, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Soon enough, their film set becomes a real jungle nightmare – complete with a colossal snake, sudden ambushes, and Jack Black himself being offered up as bait, only to reappear alive and screaming later.

This isn’t just a two-man show. The cast includes Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, and Selton Mello, adding star power and comedic weight. Directed by Tom Gormican, known for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and written with Kevin Etten, the project is clearly aiming to channel the absurd, self-aware energy of Tropic Thunder and even echoes Jack Black’s earlier Be Kind Rewind, where he hilariously remade old films on a shoestring budget.

The original Anaconda, starring Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube, was panned by critics but became a surprising box-office hit, raking in $136 million worldwide. Over the years, its sequels failed to capture the same impact. This reboot doesn’t try to out-scare its predecessor – it embraces comedy, parody, and chaos while still promising giant snake carnage. As Paul Rudd jokes in the announcement, “What you gonna do, open presents?” since the film slithers into theaters on Christmas Day, 2025.

For fans, the trailer feels equal parts ridiculous and promising. Some see strong Tropic Thunder vibes, others expect a silly but entertaining ride. Either way, this new Anaconda is betting big on audiences who want scares, laughs, and a knowingly cheesy spectacle.