Today in the USA is a horror show, it’s not that I don’t care, it’s not that I don’t want to or will not bear witness to the sh-tstorm coming our way, it’s just that I need a five minute f-cking break. And today, that break is “Paul Rudd frolicking on an Australian beach”. So here is Paul Rudd frolicking on an Australian beach.
He’s in Australia filming the Anaconda remake, co-starring Jack Black. In fact, one of Black’s body doubles was hanging on the beach with Rudd. When the film was first announced about six months ago, it was described as a “friends in mid-life crisis go to the jungle to remake their favorite film”. Now, the description is that a group of “circus performers” go to what they think is a performance, only to find themselves stranded in the jungle along with a “deadly poacher” and an anaconda. I think I like the “mid-life crisis friends” pitch better, but this film has assembled some top-tier talent, so let’s see how it turns out.
Speaking of, the film recently added Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, and iconic 80s star Ione Skye to the cast. This is a surefire way to get me to watch anything, the assemblage of Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, AND Ione Skye—who should have been a WAY bigger deal, but somehow starring in River’s Edge and Say Anything didn’t add up to an A-list career, which Skye has attributed to her own lackadaisical approach to her career—is irresistible.
I’m still very iffy on the premise and no, we don’t NEED an Anaconda remake, but like I’ve said before, studio execs are allergic to risk and convinced existing IP is their golden ticket, even though there is ample proof that IP without nostalgia is not a winning recipe (see also: The Fall Guy, The Man from UNCLE). At least if they’re going to make it, it should be fun, and if nothing else, at least Paul Rudd is having fun on the beach.
