Paul Rudd Shares Heartfelt Thoughts on His Anaconda Costar Jack Black: ‘He’s Such a Great Guy’
Paul Rudd and Jack Black on Dec. 13, 2025.
Credit:
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Paul Rudd and Jack Black Discuss Their New Film ‘Anaconda’
Paul Rudd and Jack Black recently shared insights about their upcoming film, a comedic reboot of Anaconda, during a press event. Rudd expressed his excitement about collaborating with Black, a personal hero. He remarked, “Every once in a while something will happen where I’m afforded the opportunity to get to work with a hero of mine.”
In the new movie, Rudd and Black portray aspiring filmmakers embarking on a journey to the Amazon. The film is inspired by the 1997 creature feature, which originally starred Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez, and Jon Voight.
Rudd, 56, praised the camaraderie during filming, telling Black, “you gave everybody a bit of a Jack Black experience.” Additionally, he highlighted co-stars Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton, noting the importance of the people involved in the project.
Jack Black and Paul Rudd in "Anaconda".
Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Black, also 56, resonated with Rudd’s sentiments, stating, “It’s funny, because in this movie we are playing filmmakers and so in a way we are playing ourselves. It was very close to home.” He added that the film portrays friends pursuing their dreams, a sentiment he connects with personally.
While Rudd and Black have collaborated on smaller projects in the past, including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Anaconda marks their first lead roles together. Rudd emphasized how this experience has allowed him to witness Black’s unique talent up close, commending him for his genuine interactions with fans and fellow cast members.
At the premiere, Rudd lauded Black as “a genius” and described his role in School of Rock as “a tour de force.” Rudd noted, “It’s a perfect movie, and no one else could do it except him.”
Anaconda is set to hit theaters on December 25.
