Jon Heder Says He’d Like To Do NAPOLEON DYNAMITE 2, But Says It Would Be 20 Years Later And Much Darker

Comedy 2004 Napoleon’s Dynamite he’s a fan favorite for his super-quoteable jokes and weird, low-key humor. It featured the title protagonist, an awkward high schooler named Napoleon (Jon Heder) who finds his way with the help of his friends, Pedro (Efren Ramirez) and Deb (Tina Majorino).

The film also featured Napoleon’s brother Kip (Aaron Ruel), Uncle Rico (Jon Gries), Kip’s internet girlfriend turned wife in the post-credits scene, Lafawnduh (Shondrella Avery), and a few other classmates and relatives who rounded out the perfect cast. The movie told a great story and didn’t make for a sequel, but as with any character-driven movie, they could always come back to tell us what the characters are up to now.

In a recent appearance at Steel City Con in Pittsburgh (via CB), Heder was asked about a potential sequel to Jared Hesse-directed comedy, and he replied:

“There are no official statements at this time. Would you like a Napoleon Continuation? Don’t you think it would be ruined? The track record for most of these old cult movies getting a sequel or reboot is [iffy]… Personally I would like to do more Napoleon stuff. I’d like to.”

He continued:

“I don’t think Napoleon’s book is closed forever. I honestly think there will be something, whether it’s a sequel, a TV show or another cartoon. [show]. Have you guys seen the animated series? It’s good enough. That’s your sequel, right there. We got the original cast back, it was amazing. It goes to show that because we had that show, it means there’s more out there that I honestly think you could do.”

Heder believed that with Disney’s acquisition of Fox a few years ago, there was even more potential to tell the story of Napoleon Dynamite. He explained:

“Now that the Fox properties are owned by Disney, we know how Disney feels to cash in on everything they’ve ever made. So you never know. Maybe we’ll come back. I honestly don’t think it’s dead. There’s got to be something. ”

But if we were to see the characters return, it would refresh them and not be a throwback to their high school days:

“In my personal opinion, if there was a sequel to Napoleon, it would have to be in real time. We wouldn’t go, ‘It’s senior year, and it’s a bunch of 40-year-olds pretending they’re still in high school.’ If it came from me – I don’t know how much they will listen to me – but be prepared, it will be dark”.

The actor then gave an impromptu presentation picturing a middle-aged cast:

“Part of Napoleon’s appeal is the innocence of youth. They’re in high school, they don’t have any real responsibility or excessive responsibility, he’s coming of age. Napoleon today would be: he’s entered the workforce, he’s got the responsibility, he’s paying maybe one or two alimony, child support for one of them.

“But it’s great because it also gives our hero a very low starting point and he has to win Deb back, maybe, and he has to bail Uncle Rico out of jail, and Kip actually gets kicked out of cage fighting. So Napoleon and Kip are coming and Kip is tearing people apart. I don’t know, there’s something there.”

I would watch it! Napoleon’s Dynamite is now streaming on HBO Max.