The 2025 release takes a lighter, more comedic approach to the action-horror franchise. Directed by Tom Gormican, the movie stars Jack Black and Paul Rudd as lifelong friends Doug and Griff. The pair set out to remake their favorite childhood movie, Anaconda, only to discover that a real, deadly giant snake has entered the picture.
Rather than returning as her original character, Lopez plays an exaggerated version of herself. She shows up near the end of the film to praise Doug’s movie and tells him she wants him to direct a brand-new Anaconda. It’s a quick scene, but it lands as a fun, meta twist for longtime fans.
Lopez originally starred in Anaconda alongside Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, Owen Wilson, and Ice Cube. That earlier movie leaned heavily into suspense and survival, following a documentary crew trapped in the Amazon while hunting a legendary killer snake. Lopez played Terri Flores, the crew’s director — and one of the few to make it out alive.
The 1997 film came shortly after Lopez’s breakout role in Selena and became her first major box-office hit.
Lopez isn’t the only original cast member to return in the new version. Ice Cube also appears, playing himself. While his involvement was announced ahead of time, Lopez’s cameo was kept secret until audiences discovered it in theaters.
“We always thought it would be fun to bring back the survivors,” Gormican said in an interview. Jack Black later described the cameo as a playful “Easter egg” and said both Lopez and Ice Cube were excited to celebrate the legacy of the original film.
The new Anaconda also stars Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, Selton Mello, and Ione Skye. It’s now playing in theaters, offering a mix of nostalgia, comedy, and giant-snake chaos for fans old and new.
Tags:
News
