Jack Black emphasizes the scares of new “Anaconda:” 'It's a horror film for real' (exclusive)

Despite the presence of funny guys Jack Black, Steve Zahn, and Paul Rudd, as well as the comical videos released so far as promos for Anaconda, Black says the upcoming film does come with scares.

"It's a lot funnier than the original," Black tells Entertainment Weekly in a conversation with Jason Momoa for their Minecraft movie, "but it does have a lot of the original vibes in terms of the scary parts. It's a horror film for real, but it's also got some clownin' for sure."

The original Anaconda premiered in 1997 with a cast including Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Danny Trejo, Owen Wilson, and Eric Stoltz. Directed by Luis Llosa, the movie followed a film crew taken hostage by a hunter in the Amazon jungle who wants to track down a deadly, massive snake. It spawned three other movies, including Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004), Anaconda 3: Offspring (2008), and Anacondas: Trail of Blood (2009).

Related: Jack Black and Paul Rudd hilariously tease the 'big f---in' snake' in their Anaconda comedy reboot

This new movie hails from director Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), who wrote the script with Kevin Etten. Joining Black, Rudd, and Zahn on this ride are Thandiwe Newton, Selton Mello, and Daniela Melchior. The project isn't described as a direct remake. Instead, it takes a more meta turn by focusing on a group of middle-aged friends who set off to shoot a remake of their favorite movie from their youth. Events then take a dark turn.

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The promos so far emphasized humor above all else. In one video, Black enthusiastically declared, "It's gonna be a big f---in' snake and it's gonna rip!"

"You wanna get scared? You wanna laugh? You wanna celebrate with your friends? Or maybe you're alone and sad and have nobody but just wanna forget about that," Rudd said in the same video.

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In another video, Black and Rudd are joined by Mello as they all perform a song to announce the main cast. "We gotta kill that snake and the snake inside," Black sings. "We gotta kill it! We're goin' break its neck and cook it on a stove."

Anaconda is set to open on Christmas Day.

—Reporting by Jorie McDonald.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly