Anaconda: Reboot of Jennifer Lopez's 1997 Film Has Jack Black and Paul Rudd in Early Talks to Star

Anaconda is tightening its grip on audiences once more.

PEOPLE has learned that Jack Black and Paul Rudd are in early talks to star in a previously announced reboot of the 1997 horror flick that starred Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube, but deals are not completed. The new movie will not be a direct remake of the original.

According to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten are co-writing the movie's script, while Gormican is slated to direct. The outlets reported that the movie will skew toward comedic elements and be distributed by Columbia Pictures, under the Sony umbrella.

Reps for Black, 54, and Rudd, 55, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

The project has been in development for a while, as sources told THR in January 2020 that the reboot will be a reimagining that the studio hopes will be similar to the 2018 campy shark film The Meg, which raked in over $530 million at the box office.

The original Anaconda was released in April 1997 and starred Lopez — who, less than a month earlier, wowed audiences with her star-making turn in Selena — as well as Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, Jonathan Hyde and Owen Wilson.

Although Anaconda wasn’t the biggest critical hit (and even picked up several Razzie Award nominations), it was a box-office success, grossing $136.8 million, and has become a cult classic in the 27 years since its release.

It went on to inspire three additional horror films, the first of which was released in theaters while the others went directly to video: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004), Anaconda 3: Offspring (2008), Anacondas: Trail of Blood (2009) and Lake Placid vs. Anaconda (2015).

Meanwhile, the reboot would be the first film project Black has joined since he announced his decision to cancel his band Tenacious D's tour last month.

The decision came after a crass joke that bandmate Kyle Gass made about the shooting that took place at former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

However, on Aug. 6, Black shared an update with Entertainment Tonight, noting that he's not counting the longtime comedy-rock duo out completely. "I love Tenacious D ... We had to take a break, but I love the D," he said at the Borderlands premiere in Los Angeles. "Everybody takes a break sometimes. We'll be back."