“Napoleon Dynamite” helmer boards “Shanghai Noon” sequel

PanARMENIAN.Net - “Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess is set to helm “Shanghai Noon” sequel “Shanghai Dawn” for MGM, Variety reports.

Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson are in negotiations to reprise their roles for the long-awaited third film in the franchise.

Plot details are being kept under wraps. The story is by Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, who wrote 2000’s “Shanghai Noon” and 2003’s “Shanghai Knights.” Theodore Riley and Aaron Buchsbaum penned the script.

Tom Dey’s original movie followed Chan’s character, who was forced to team up with an outlaw (Wilson) to save a Chinese princess. The film became a hit, grossing $99 million worldwide. David Dobkin’s “Shanghai Knights,” which had a similar plot but was set in London, underperformed at the box office, earning $88 million, leading to a third film being shelved.

Spyglass Entertainment is producing. Millar and Gough will executive produce.

Hess, who is repped by UTA, directed “Masterminds,” starring Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis, which is bowing this fall. He also helmed the 2015 comedy “Don Verdean.” Hess is best known for Sundance sensation “Napoleon Dynamite,” as well as the Jack Black comedy “Nacho Libre.”