In news that'll have "Napoleon Dynamite" fans coast-to-coast "Gosh!"-ing with anticipation, McFarlane Toys has announced plans for a line of collectible figures based on the cult film.
The five figures include a gangsta Kip, a dazed-looking Pedro and three Napoleons: one in mid-dance, one decked out in prom attire and one engaging in hot tetherball action (click here for photos). They'll hit stores in November priced at $12.99 each, while a deluxe, 12-inch talking Napoleon figure will retail for $39.99.
McFarlane Toys, founded by comic-book artist Todd McFarlane, makes ultra-detailed figures based on films, comics, bands and sports figures, and has been working on the line of "Napoleon Dynamite" figures since April. The whole process got started, McFarlane said, when he first noticed people at parties and in chatrooms quoting lines from the film.
"We try to make figures based on films that have an effect on people. And 'Napoleon' definitely had an effect on a whole lot of people," he said. Everywhere I went, people were spouting off lines from the film and talking about their favorite scenes. So I knew we were on to something. And that's when we began talking to [director] Jared Hess about making the figures."
The figures are just the latest in an ever-growing list of accolades and ephemera "Napoleon Dynamite" has collected since it debuted at last year's Sundance Film Festival (where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize). In April the Idaho State Legislature passed a bill commending Hess, who shot the film in Idaho, for "showcasing the positive aspects of Idaho's youth, rural culture, education system, athletics, economic prosperity and diversity." And just last month the film walked away with top honors at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards (see "Eminem Teases Lindsay And Newbies Rule At MTV Movie Awards").
According to McFarlane, depending on how well the "Napoleon Dynamite" figures are received, a second line might be made, featuring, among other characters, Napoleon's ham-loving llama, Tina.
"We could do a whole lot more 'Napoleon' figures," he said. "There's so many amazingly quirky and funny characters in the film, we can pretty much just take our pick."
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