Interviews
New ‘Anaconda’ Cast Joined the Meta-Comedy As Huge Fans of the Original Movie [Interview]
Four friends reunite to remake their favorite movie of all time in the new reimagining of Anaconda, and it turns out that the new cast also happens to be huge fans of the ’90s creature feature.
The meta-comedy movie slithers into theaters on December 25.
In Anaconda’s big screen return, “Best friends Doug and Griff have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie: the cinematic classic, Anaconda. But 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.”
While Jack Black and Paul Rudd star as Doug and Griff, respectively, they’re part of a foursome joined by Thandiwe Newton as Claire and Steve Zahn as Kenny. All four characters are bonded for life by their love of the ’90s movie, which also extends to real life.
Bloody Disgusting spoke with the foursome ahead of the film’s release next week, where they revealed that they didn’t have to work hard to play the roles of Anaconda fans; they already were coming into this project.
Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube, Eric Stoltz, and Jon Voight starred in the original 1997 film that saw a documentary film crew held hostage by a deranged hunter as he seeks to hunt the world’s biggest and deadliest snake. The film’s success launched three sequels between 2004 and 2009.
Also be sure to check out the final trailer, if you haven’t, for a peek at a familiar face from the original.
Watch Black, Rudd, Newton, and Zach gush about the original film below.
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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