Jon Heder Shares Rare Update 20 Years After Napoleon Dynamite Staff, 6/23/2024 Jon Heder, star of the cult film "Napoleon Dynamite," opens up about the ongoing love for the movie and how even his young children are fans. Heder also shares his thoughts on the character's future, including potential health issues and a possible sequel. Don't miss this rare update! "The tots line is actually the one that gets yelled to me the most," the actor -- who portrayed the titular character in the 2004 cult film -- recently told E! News, "which I will accept." (ICYMI, that would be, "Napoleon, give me some of your tots.")
Indeed, the Napoleon Dynamite fandom is so strong, even Heder's young kids have joined in on the fun.
"They're very aware of the craze," the dad of four shared. "My daughter actually enjoys it. She's 7. She's like, 'Oh, can we watch clips from the movie?'"
His 10-year-old son, on the other hand, "loves the reaction it gets, he understands it for the fame aspect," the 46-year-old noted. "I don't know if he cares that much about the movie. But he loves to tell people who I am."
Heder, too, has a soft spot for the comedy. To celebrate the 20th anniversary this month, he stepped back into his character's shoes -- and pants -- for an Ore-Ida partnership that references a memorable scene from the movie...and offers a solution to crushed tots.
In the accompanying ad, Napoleon (Heder) is still haunted by the potatoes that were ruined by high school classmate Randy (Bracken Johnson) back in the early aughts. But now, he has the Tot-Protecting Pants to keep his food safe.
"It just seemed kind of obvious," Heder told E! of the collab. "If Napoleon is ever going to sell anything it's either tots or Chapstick."
And as for where Heder thinks his character is today?
"I don't think it's looking pretty for Napoleon," he admitted of the Idaho native. "I think Napoleon's life is more drama than comedy. I think he is battling some health issues and has thinning hair."
And unfortunately for all, Heder doesn't believe Napoleon's relationship with crush Deb (Tina Majorino) works out.
"But he's still trying to win her back," he said, before teasing a potential sequel idea. "So maybe there's an adventure there."
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