A sequel to the 2006 cult classic “Snakes on a Plane” is set to film major portions of the movie on the Outer Banks. Director J.J. Abrams described the new movie as a “historical fiction” piece that imagines what would have happened if a shipment of dangerous snakes had gotten loose from the baggage compartment of the Wright Flyer during Orville Wright’s famous first powered flight. Samuel L. Jackson plays Orville Wright and is joined by an all-star cast of actors he has worked with in past films. The OBX Report caught up with Abrams and Jackson while the two were scouting locations in Dare County for the film.
OBXR: Thank you for speaking with us. J.J., a lot of attention on the Outer Banks from Hollywood lately. Spielberg and Hanks are doing a special for HBO about the Wright Flight…
J.J.: Who?
OBXR: Right. Samuel L., you are reunited with a number of stars you’ve worked with in the past. Tim Robbins will be playing Wilbur to your Orville. You two made quite a team in Shawshank Redemption, do you think–
Jackson: That wasn’t me. That was Morgan Freeman.
OBXR: Oh, right. Well how about Bill Paxton playing the part of John T. Daniel, the man who snapped the famous picture? You and he appeared together in Independence Day and –
Jackson: Dude? Seriously? That was Will Smith. Come on.
OBXR: Yes, sorry! You’re in so many action films, I get a little mixed up. Now, Richard Gere is playing Adam Etheridge, one of the men working at the Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station. You guys haven’t worked together since Officer and a Gentleman and I wondered if you–
Jackson: Are you f—–g kidding me? Lou Gossett is like my grandpa! I’m out of here.
OBXR: No, I’m so sorry! Please one more question. We’ve heard a rumor that Eddie Murphy is going to play Will Dough.
Jackson: Yeah? Eddie’s great. Look forward to working with him.
OBXR: So you two were comedy gold in 48 Hours when you played the cop character and he was–
Jackson: G——n it! Is Kutcher hiding in a closet? You’re f—-g with me right? That was Nick Nolte, man. Do your homework.
Jackson left the interview at that point. We asked J.J. Abrams what he felt was going to be the biggest challenge making this movie, besides his prima donna leading man.
J.J.: Well, from a storytelling point, it’s going to be tough. Orville’s flight lasted 12 seconds and that’s not much time for backstory and tension building before the snakes make their escape. Actually, I’m thinking we might change things up and have the snakes break loose during the fourth flight. Wilbur flew nearly a minute. Gives us a lot more time to get the audience engage and have a climatic showdown with the snakes. Sam will be disappointed, but he is a pro. He didn’t want his character to die in Turner and Hooch, but he realized that artistically, it was the only way for that flick to end.
OBXR: Wait? Who’d he play in that one?
J.J.: Hooch.
OBXR: Wasn’t Hooch the dog?
J.J.: Oh, snap. Yeah.
OBXR: It’s okay. Sam’s been in a lot of mother effing movies. Easy to get confused.