Jack Black and Paul Rudd, known for their comedic talents in Hollywood, have finally joined forces for a feature-length project, the highly anticipated Jack Black Anaconda team-up. The duo stars together in a reimagined Anaconda film, playing characters who set out to produce their own low-budget version of the cult classic, only to encounter a real-life giant snake. This marks their most significant collaboration since their brief but memorable interaction in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
A Long-Awaited Collaboration in Hollywood Comedy
Both Black and Rudd have built impressive résumés in comedy, yet fans have only seen their chemistry briefly on screen during the Beatles-inspired scene in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. This new project, Anaconda, aims to change that, giving audiences a full-fledged adventure where Black and Rudd play members of a resourceful team determined to bring their own vision of Anaconda to life. Despite their ambitious efforts, they soon face much more danger than they bargained for when a monstrous snake enters the picture.
“This has been a long time coming,”
Jack Black, Actor/Comedian
“Me and Paul have been in a mutual-admiration society for decades.”
Jack Black, Actor/Comedian
Shared History and Near Misses in Past Projects
The professional paths of Jack Black and Paul Rudd have intertwined several times over the years. Rudd first noticed Black’s talent after seeing him in the early ‘90s film Bob Roberts. He remembered,
“A month after that movie, I went to this audition and there was only one other actor auditioning for the part, and that was Jack,”
adding,
“And I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s the fucking guy from Bob Roberts.’ And you were very nice.”
Their connection deepened during the casting process for High Fidelity, where Rudd auditioned for the role of Dick—ultimately played by Todd Louiso—while Black secured his breakthrough as Barry. Rudd even advocated for Black’s casting, stating to director Stephen Frears,
“There’s this actor named Jack Black, and he’s the guy that should play this part, because he’s also a musician and he’s really funny.”
Frears took notice, jotting down Black’s name, which helped launch his film career.
“We would have been best friends,”
Jack Black, Actor/Comedian
“I said to Stephen Frears, ‘There’s this actor named Jack Black, and he’s the guy that should play this part, because he’s also a musician and he’s really funny’,”
Paul Rudd, Actor
“He was like, ‘What’s his name?’ He wrote it down!”
Paul Rudd, Actor
The pair’s shared admiration, reinforced by such events, set the stage for their present-day team-up, lending a nostalgic layer to their Anaconda endeavor. As Black enthused, his career trajectory owes much to Rudd’s early endorsement.
Anticipation Builds Ahead of Anaconda Release
Fans interested in the full story behind the Jack Black Anaconda team-up can read the extensive interview with the duo in The Odyssey issue of Empire, which goes on sale Thursday, 20 November. The new Anaconda film is slated to debut in UK cinemas from 26 December, bringing together comedy, suspense, and the longstanding camaraderie of two fan-favorite actors.
This collaboration is expected to resonate with audiences, given Black and Rudd’s history and comedic rapport. Their latest team effort not only celebrates decades of mutual admiration but also promises to reenergize the Anaconda franchise with humor and genuine friendship, drawing on their past experiences and the legacy of films like Bob Roberts, High Fidelity, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
