Original Napoleon Dynamite Star Shares His Dark Pitch For A Sequel

Napoleon Dynamite lead actor Jon Heder shares his pitch for a much darker sequel nearly 20 years after the original cult classic was released.

Original Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder has revealed his dark pitch for a sequel to the quirky cult classic, nearly 20 years since it was first released in theaters. The idiosyncratic 2004 comedy features a trio of eccentric high school students: Napoleon Dynamite (Heder), an oddball looking to help his friend, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), become class president, and Deb (Tina Majorino), a budding photographer. The film is light-hearted and absurd, which makes Heder’s darker idea for a sequel all the more intriguing.

Appearing at Pittsburgh’s Steel City Con (via Comicbook), Heder addressed a crowd about his hope for a sequel, which is as yet unconfirmed. Noting Disney’s acquisition of Fox, whose purview Napoleon Dynamite fell under, and the recent uptick in franchises and legacy sequels, Heder expressed optimism at the prospect of a sequel nearly 20 years after the original. He even had a pitch in mind, which would see the original cast return, no longer high school students, but instead coping with the adult world and real responsibilities:

In my personal opinion, if there was a Napoleon sequel, it would have to be real time. We wouldn’t do, ‘It’s senior year, and it’s a bunch of 40-year-olds pretending they’re still in high school.’ If it was coming from me — I don’t know how much they’re going to listen to me — but prepare yourselves, it’s gonna be dark.

Part of the charm of Napoleon is the innocence of youth. They’re in high school, they don’t have any real responsibility or accountability too much, it’s all coming of age. Napoleon today would be: he’s entered the workforce, he’s got responsibility, he’s paying for maybe one or two alimonies, child support for one of them.

But it’s great because it also gives our hero a very low place to start and he’s got to win back Deb, maybe, and he’s got to save Uncle Rico from prison, and Kip is actually roided-out from cage fighting. So Napoleon and Kip are getting there and Kip is tearing people up. I don’t know, there’s something there.

Related: The First Horror Legacy Sequel Was Much Earlier Than You Realize

Why Heder’s Napoleon Dynamite 2 Pitch Could Work

Part of the appeal of Napoleon Dynamite was its status as an unexpected indie hit, utilizing the coming-of-age trope and subverting it with deadpan humor and forgoing usual genre conventions. It’s debatable whether it would work in the same way today, given its lackadaisical tone and its vital 2004 Idaho setting. Perhaps proof of this can be seen in the animated six-episode TV sequel, released on Fox in 2012 to lackluster reception, generally flying under the radar. However, Heder’s proposed story would follow the real-life time span between the original movie and a sequel, and a darker plot may be the difference needed to refresh the story in order to work today.

Another reason for the great reception and lasting legacy of Napoleon Dynamite rests in its endearingly apathetic tone, reflected in its blunt, taciturn leading man. He is also a less-than-glamorous protagonist, living with his grandma and 32-year-old brother who spends his time in chat rooms, and is bullied at high school. Heder’s pitch would translate Napoleon’s unusual, troublesome living circumstances into a relatable, modern-day equivalent, a key requirement of any legacy sequel. The sequel would be able to retain the borderline pessimism of the original, while also giving Napoleon real stakes, such as raising children and potentially getting Deb back.

Whether a sequel is ever made likely depends on whether the director of the original film, Jared Hess, would return to direct. Napoleon Dynamite was a semi-autobiographical film based on Hess’ lived experiences growing up in Idaho. Heder has always recognized this, having previously rejected the opportunity to return for a sequel directed by someone other than Hess. As such, the Idaho setting would remain integral to any planned sequel, and would probably never happen if this wasn’t the case. This is a good thing because the setting is one of the key factors that gives the film its unique atmosphere and story. Heder still remains open to Napoleon Dynamite 2, and with the success of recent legacy sequels including Top Gun: Maverick, it could prove to be a hit in its own right.

Next: Top Gun: Maverick Cleverly Avoids Every Legacy Sequel Mistake

Source: Comicbook