The reimagined 2025 Anaconda film has announced new members of its cast. Thandiwe Newton, Steve Zahn, Ione Skye, and Selton Mello will join co-stars Paul Rudd and Jack Black in the film set for release December 25, 2025. Described as a “meta-turn” from the original Anaconda, which starred Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Eric Stoltz, and Jon Voight, the Columbia Pictures movie takes a comedic shift. It follows a group of friends who visit the rainforest to remake their favorite movie. Black and Rudd announced the film in December 2024.

The newest cast members bring their own accolades to the feature. Emmy-award winning Newton recently starred in box office hit Mufasa: The Lion King and Emmy-award nominee Zahn stars in Apple TV+’s dystopian drama Silo. Zahn also played a role in season one of HBO’s widely regarded White Lotus.

Skye, who plays Black’s wife, has a variety of credits including Say Anything, Zodiac and Netflix’s Beef. In his first English-speaking film, Mello plays a Brazilian animal wrangler. Mello most recently played Rubens Paiva in I’m Still Here. This true story garnered significant awards buzz, especially since Fernanda Torres’ Golden Globe win.

Filmmaker Tom Gormican of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is directing the film. He co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Etten. The film is currently shooting in Queensland, Australia.