A new Anaconda movie, starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd, is set to release in theaters this Christmas Day. However, people are still wondering whether it is a legacy sequel or a remake/reboot of the 1997 cult classic.
For the past several years, Sony has been developing a new Anaconda movie, reviving the horror franchise for the big screen. While the original film was not well-received by critics, it gained a cult following throughout the years and spawned multiple standalone sequels. Now that a new installment is on the horizon, one of the biggest questions is how connected it is to the original.
Is Anaconda (2025) a Sequel or Remake of the 1997 Classic?
The answer might be complicated for some, since the new film is neither a sequel nor a remake/reboot of the original 1997 film.
Instead, Anaconda (2025) has been described as a "meta reboot" horror comedy of the original. While it is connected to the original, it is not a legacy sequel that continues the story nor a re-imagining of the concept.
The new film focused on a new set of characters who were fans of the original 1997 film and decided to do an amateur remake themselves. In other words, Anaconda exists simply as a movie in their world, and it is not set in the world where the original takes place.
This might sound too complicated for some audiences, but rest assured, the new film should not be treated as a sequel or a remake, and the story is still pretty much standalone, despite some connections to the 1997 classic.
If you are looking for easter eggs or big references to the original, you can still look forward to that since it was confirmed recently that Ice Cube, who starred in the 1997 film, has a cameo appearance as himself.
"It’s cool to do a cameo, to kind of make it go full circle in a way. When they asked me to do it, when I knew the kind of movie they were doing, I jumped at it. I’m like, 'This is something different. It’s cool,'" he told the reporters.
What to Expect in Anaconda (2025)
The film follows Doug and Griff, who have been best friends since they were kids and have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie. When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they head deep into the Amazon to start filming.
However, things get real when an actual giant anaconda appears, turning their comically chaotic movie set into a deadly situation. The movie they’re dying to make? It might just get them killed.
Aside from Black and Rudd, the cast also includes Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, and Selton Mello. Tom Gormican directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Etten.
It is slated for release in theaters this December 25, as part of the holiday movie season slate.
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!