Jon Heder Recreates Napoleon Dynamite Tater Tots Scene 20 Years Later (Unique)

Jon Heder is a die-hard tater tots fan in actual life.

The star of the 2004 cult basic Napoleon Dynamite spoke with PEOPLE about how his love of tater tots has withstood twenty years because the movie premiered. And to have fun the film’s twentieth anniversary, Heder teamed up with Ore-Ida to recreate one of many film’s most iconic scenes.

“What? Go get your personal,” Heder sarcastically says within the model’s brief movie (above) in partnership with Searchlight Photos. Within the video, he is seen with Napoleon’s trademark purple curly hair and clear aviator glasses.

Within the iconic movie scene, class bully Randy yells “Gimme a few of your tots!” earlier than kicking Napoleon’s pocket and smashing his beloved snacks. To fight any unlucky future fights, Ore-Ida created hilarious “tot-protecting pants” that Heder wears within the video. After all, they resemble his cozy joggers within the movie – however additionally they have a brilliant purple pocket for safe-tot-keeping. Beginning June 17, followers can snag a limited-edition pair on ProtectYourTaterTots.com whereas provides final.

Heder tells PEOPLE he loved bringing the lovable teenager again to life so a few years after he performed the position. 

“It’s all the time enjoyable throwing again on the denims and the moon boots and the glasses,” Heder, 46, says. “Nevertheless it feels extra like a fantasy position than it did 20 years in the past when it felt extra like, ‘Okay, I am nearer to the precise age of Napoleon. That is my actual hair. That is my world. It wasn’t that way back after I was sitting at my very own desk at school drawing dragons and unicorns.’ ”

Heder, who adopted up his Napoleon Dynamite efficiency with massive roles in The Benchwarmers and Blades of Glory, talked about that many components of Napoleon’s character overlapped with who he was on the time — particularly his favourite snacks. 

“This film was very private to me. I felt a lot simply lined up, I used to be like, ‘Yeah, I like tots.’ There’s so many issues that Napoleon appreciated or that he did and I used to be like, ‘Yeah, these are the type of issues I did,'” he says. 

Over the course of twenty years, Heder says he runs into some hilarious conditions whereas ordering tater tots at eating places.

“9 out of 10 instances, I am going to order the tots as a result of they’re nice — I like them. However particularly proper after the film after I was far more acknowledged, individuals could be me like, ‘Are you going to get some tots?’” he provides. “And there is that a part of you who desires to say, ‘No, I am an actor. It is only a film.’ However I am like, ‘Yeah, in fact I do. Tots are unimaginable.’”

One other memorable second from Napoleon Dynamite, which turned 20 on June 11, is the scene between Napoleon and Tina, a fussy llama. Heder tells PEOPLE that after they arrived on location to shoot the Ore-Ida adverts, a “magical factor” occurred: a llama was ready for them.

“There is a llama actually sitting perched down, simply hunkered within the shade of a tree. And he is straight behind me within the shot for nearly all the day we had been capturing. No person [from the crew] put it there,” Heder provides. “It felt like, ‘Oh my gosh, that is excellent.’”

In February, Heder and among the different actors from Napoleon Dynamite, together with Efren Ramirez and John Gries, met up in Orlando for a celebration of the film’s twentieth yr. Following a screening, an viewers member requested Heder the place he thought all the characters could be now. 

“I feel it isn’t trying superb for many of them,” he joked in response. “Napoleon might be paying baby help to 2 completely different mothers, with two completely different youngsters … possibly Trisha was a fling.”

When requested a few sequel to the hit comedy, Heder says that though there’s nothing within the works, he has an open thoughts.

“Something’s doable so long as we’re alive and kicking round. Usually I inform individuals, no, I am not making any guarantees as a result of there is not any plans for a sequel. However I do not assume the e-book of Napoleon is closed for good is type of simply my intestine feeling,” Heder says.