Paul Rudd and Jack Black are joining highly-anticipation film, Anaconda, a reboot of the original 1997 thriller. The duo admits that they are drawn by a bold script and the creative team behind the critically acclaimed The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten’s work on the action-comedy, which constantly upends audience expectations, was a major draw for Paul.
“When it was released, I watched that film four times – I was obsessed with it. It was clever, funny, and unique. Similarly, this Anaconda is layered with laughs, action, and surprises.” – Paul Rudd
Jack Black agrees, citing both the script and the collaborators as key reasons for signing on. “The script for Anaconda was funny and crazy, and I was excited to work with Tom Gormican and his brain, because The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent was one of my favorite films. And … Paul Rudd was attached! I was like, ‘I want to party with these dudes!’ This was a deck full of aces.”
Director Tom Gormican highlights the chemistry between the two actors and a deliberate reversal of expectations in their roles. “Jack and Paul are incredible performers. We wanted to make Jack the straight man and Paul the comedy character, which is a reversal of their regular casting, to see if we could bring something fresh to the table. Jack as the emotional center; Paul as the wildcard. Those two can find the funny in any situation. Made my job much easier.”