“Logo text Anaconda fans got a fresh taste of the upcoming Sony comedy feature that promises to be unhinged. Director Tom Gormican and cast member Selton Mello took the stage at CCXP in São Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday to debut four previously unseen clips from the reimagining of the 1997 horror movie of the same name.”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
Anaconda fans got a fresh taste of the upcoming Sony comedy feature that promises to be unhinged.
Director Tom Gormican and cast member Selton Mello took the stage at CCXP in São Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday to debut four previously unseen clips from the reimagining of the 1997 horror movie of the same name. Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton and Daniela Melchior round out the cast for the Columbia Pictures film that hits theaters Dec. 25.
Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) and Mello emphasized that the new movie is not a remake or reboot of 1997’s Anaconda that starred Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube and Jon Voight. The new project centers on a group of friends who were obsessed with the ’90s survival film and set out to shoot their own version, giant snake and all.
“They’re failed filmmakers who decided to make this movie because of their passion for the original Anaconda,” Gormican explained of lead characters Griff (Rudd) and Doug (Black). “[It’s] sort of a meta concept that is a celebration of the original but is a wholly new idea.”
The first clip introduced audiences to the Brazilian snake handler character played by Mello, the I’m Still Here standout who also received the CCXP award as honoree of the year for his contributions to Brazilian culture and cinema. In the scene, Mello’s character reveals that an anaconda killed his grandmother. “[She was a] horrible grandmother, but still sad,” the character explains.
A different clip showed the friends bonding at night as they discuss potential changes to their script, with Rudd trying to convince Newton that their Anaconda reboot should include a scene where two of the characters head-butt someone. “A double head-butt is pretty revolutionary,” Black agrees in the footage.
In a follow-up conversation from the São Paulo Expo floor, Gormican gave a little more insight into the movie’s tone. “This is a big adventure comedy,” he shared. “It’s obviously off-the-rails at a certain point.”
In response to the moderator asking whether this year’s Anaconda could lead to more entries in the franchise, Gormican replied, “I don’t think it needs to be a stand-alone story,” noting that the narrative can lend itself to more stories. He added, “I guess it depends on how many people go to see it on Christmas Day.”
While stars Black and Rudd did not attend the event, both were seen in previously recorded video messages to congratulate Mello on his CCXP award. After mentioning how much he loved working with Mello, Rudd went on to say, “I guess what I really want to say is, if I come to Brazil, can I stay at your place?”
Rudd continued, “Is that OK? You don’t have to answer this now. Actually, could you?”