Very few films, and even fewer debut features, have reached the same mass pop cultural awareness as Jared Hess’ “Napoleon Dynamite.” Unfortunately, none of Hess’ follow-ups have matched his first film in either box office or critical success. His next film, however, may at least see him back in multiplexes the world over as he brings in Jim Carrey as his leading man.
Based on the true story of “four Southerners who stole $17 million from an armed Loomis Fargo truck in 1997,” “Loomis Fargo” will be directed by Hess with a script that began as an original draft by “Up All Night” creator Emily Spivey, with rewrites by “Eastbound and Down” duo Danny McBride and Jody Hill. The draft that will enter into production is credited to a pair of writers from the “Napoleon Dynamite” TV show, Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer.
Should negotiations go through, Carrey would play the “ex-military leader” of the Southern gang of robbers. Hess’ previous efforts haven't been as potentially plot-heavy as this sounds, so with the film ostensibly centering around this heist we hope to see the filmmaker really connect. And he’s not the only one that needs a comeback. Jim Carrey has been in a slight rut of family fare, but between this, "Kick-Ass 2" and "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone," things will hopefully be turning around for the actor.
And one final note: when McBride and Hill were still working on the film, the former likened it to “a southern ‘Godfather.'” Promising indeed. [The Wrap / THR]