Nearly three decades after facing a killer snake in the Amazon, Ice Cube is headed back into Anaconda territory — and he says he “jumped at it.” The original star of the 1997 cult classic has a new cameo in the 2025 Anaconda movie, and for longtime fans of Danny Rich, this full‑circle return feels like a nostalgic gift wrapped inside a wild new adventure.
From Cameraman Danny Rich to Cult Horror Icon
In 1997’s “Anaconda,” Ice Cube played Danny Rich, a tough, wise‑cracking cameraman on a documentary crew trapped in the Amazon with a giant snake and an even more dangerous poacher. Starring alongside Jennifer Lopez, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, and Owen Wilson, Cube helped turn what could have been a throwaway creature feature into a beloved piece of ‘90s horror‑adventure history. Fans still quote his lines and remember Danny as one of the few smart characters in a very dumb situation.
The original “Anaconda” went on to become a surprise box office success and a cable TV staple, cementing Ice Cube’s status not just as a rapper and comedian, but as a legit action‑horror lead. For many viewers, he was the heartbeat of that first movie — the grounded, relatable guy you wanted to see make it out alive.
Why He Said “I Jumped At It”
Speaking on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of the new “Anaconda,” Ice Cube explained why he didn’t hesitate when the filmmakers reached out. He called the cameo a “full‑circle” moment and said that once he understood the kind of movie they were making — a meta, comedic take rather than a straight remake — he “jumped at it.” In his words, it felt “different” and “cool,” and the idea of surprising audiences as Danny again was too fun to pass up.
Cube also joked that people would “get a kick” out of seeing him pop up on screen after so many years. For him, it wasn’t about trying to outdo the original, but about tipping his hat to the fans who kept Anaconda alive all these years. The cameo lets him close the loop on Danny’s story in a playful way, while passing the torch to a new cast and a new tone.
Inside the New Anaconda (2025) and Its Wild Cast
The 2025 “Anaconda” isn’t a shot‑for‑shot remake of the original. Instead, it’s a meta, comedic reimagining that follows lifelong friends played by Paul Rudd and Jack Black, who decide to travel to the Amazon to remake their favorite “cinematic classic”: Anaconda. Naturally, things spiral out of control when a real giant snake crashes their low‑budget movie shoot and turns their passion project into a fight for survival.
Alongside Rudd and Black, the cast includes Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, Selton Mello, and Ione Skye, with Ice Cube appearing as himself/Danny in a winking cameo. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Lawson also appear as themselves, further layering the film’s blend of nostalgia and satire. Directed by a filmmaker known for sharp, offbeat comedies, the new Anaconda leans into humor without forgetting to deliver genuine creature‑feature thrills.
Why His Return Matters for Fans
For fans of the original, Ice Cube’s enthusiastic “I jumped at it” is more than just a soundbite — it feels like a stamp of approval. Even Paul Rudd has joked in interviews that having Cube blessing the new movie is “like being blessed by the Pope.” When a cult classic gets revisited decades later, there’s always nervousness about whether it will respect what came before. Knowing that the original star not only signed on, but did so eagerly because he liked the direction, goes a long way in calming those fears.
Ice Cube’s return taps directly into that ‘90s creature‑feature nostalgia while acknowledging that times — and audiences — have changed. Instead of trying to pretend the original never existed, the new film invites us to laugh with it, remember why we loved it, and still get a fresh dose of snake‑driven chaos. For viewers who grew up watching Danny Rich survive the Amazon on VHS and cable, hearing Cube say he “jumped at” coming back is the perfect reason to buy a ticket and see how the legend of Anaconda lives on.
