Although 2004’s offbeat comedy Napoleon Dynamite quickly became the definition of a cult classic, there’s a reason that fans are still waiting on a sequel early 20 years later: star Jon Heder won’t move forward without the involvement of writer and director Jared Hess. Sitting down with the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast recently, Heder shared that while there had been talks of a follow-up to Napoleon Dynamite in the years after the film gained popularity, he refused to move forward without the project also involving Hess.

“We didn’t even think about a sequel. Nobody was even asking [for a] sequel in the beginning. It wasn’t until probably later that year or the years after when my agents were like, ‘Fox wants to do a sequel. Would you be willing to do a sequel without Jared?’” Heder told host Michael Rosenbaum.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

“I think they were asking because they were probably feeling like, ‘Oh I don’t know if Jared is gonna be up for this.’ He might’ve already said no. I don’t know.”

But Heder, who is also a close personal friend of the director, says that a sequel to Hess’ “deeply autobiographical” film is a firm no-go for him unless Hess was also involved.

“I said, ‘No I wouldn’t do one without Jared.’ Because [Napoleon Dynamite] was Jared’s. This was his life growing up in Preston, Idaho. It was very personal to him…to do a sequel without him was just…it made no sense.”

Heder Shares His Vision for Napoleon Dynamite Sequel: ‘Raw and Edgy’

     Fox Searchlight Pictures

While Heder’s return for a Napoleon Dynamite may hinge on Hess returning as well, it doesn’t mean that a sequel is completely off the table in his mind. In fact, he’s just waiting for Hess to “pull the trigger.”

“I would come back if Jared decided, ‘Hey, let’s go ahead and see if we can pull off the magic.’ We’ve thought about it. We’re always playing with the idea. I know I’ve talked a little bit with Jared, and it’s his baby, so I’m just like, ‘You pull the trigger on that,’” Heder told a virtual Wizard World panel in 2020.

In the meantime, the actor says he has a few ideas on how a sequel might play out if Hess decides to move forward.

“I feel like the future for Napoleon would be a lot more raw and edgy. So whatever [Hess] comes up with would be fun to explore. Because I think whatever Jared comes up with wouldn’t be your typical, ‘Let’s do a sequel where they all look the same and they all act the same.’ I think it would be an interesting development in their lives.”

Napoleon Dynamite is now streaming on HBO Max.