‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Comes to TV Just in Time for the World to End [Video]

Only eight years too late, 20th Century Fox Television has teamed up with filmmakers Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess to create a new animated series based on their hit indie movie, Napoleon Dynamite. Produced by Mike Scully (The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond), the series will debut in 2012 and feature the film's original cast lending their voices to their animated counterparts. We'll wait here while you get in your time machine, travel back to 2004 and post about it on MySpace. Napoleon Dynamite was something of a pop cultural revolution upon its release in 2004. With a budget of around $400 thousand, the film made nearly $45 million. Its dialogue and "Vote for Pedro" iconography and merchandise were ubiquitous online and in malls across the nation, as of course was actor Jon Heder's meticulously constructed über-dork, the title character himself.

Although more than eight years will have past since the film was in theaters, its creators, cast and Fox seem to think there's a good chance Napoleon Dynamite's collection of oblivious, imbecilic characters will feel right at home on the network, which also broadcasts Family Guy.

Based on the hit film, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America's most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

The original cast from the film - Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader - will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way.

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Heder) is a 16-year-old boy convinced - for no apparent reason - that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited "sweet abilities." He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing and bragging about his "girlfriend in Oklahoma" whom nobody has ever seen. Napoleon's brother, KIP (Ruell), is an unemployed 32-year-old who lives at home and believes he would be an amazing catch for any girl who would respond to his online come-ons. The Dynamite brothers live with GRANDMA (Martin), a crusty woman who can often be found four-wheeling with her lady friends at the local sand dunes.

Napoleon's allies include PEDRO (Ramirez), his unflappable best friend who has recently been elected class president; and DEB (Majorino), an incredibly sweet girl who sees the good in Napoleon and dreams of someday being his wife. Napoleon's UNCLE RICO (Gries) lives out of an orange custom van, where he obsesses over his botched high school football career and dreams up ways to become rich and famous. Then there's REX KWON DO (Bader), a self-proclaimed martial-arts master who runs the local dojo.

Guest voices in the debut season include Jennifer Coolidge ("American Pie," "Legally Blonde"), Sam Rockwell ("Choke") and Jemaine Clement ("Flight of the Conchords").

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is a 20th Century Fox Television production. The series is created and executive-produced by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Nacho Libre"), along with Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Mike Scully (THE SIMPSONS, "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Parks & Recreation"). The animation house is Rough Draft Studios ("Futurama," "The Simpsons Movie").