Jon Heder, forever etched into pop culture as the awkwardly lovable Napoleon Dynamite, takes an unexpected turn in Waltzing with Brando, Bill Fishman’s biographical drama about Marlon Brando’s little-known ecological dream. The film, based on Bernard Judge’s memoir, follows the unlikely friendship between Brando (played by Billy Zane) and Judge (Heder), a young Los Angeles architect enlisted to design a sustainable paradise on Brando’s private Tahitian atoll.
Speaking with me, Heder admitted that stepping into Judge’s shoes was a balancing act. Unlike Brando, Judge isn’t a household name, which gave Heder both freedom and responsibility. “Nobody knows who Bernard is … he’s the everyman, the audience’s point of view,” Heder explained. Rather than mimic mannerisms, he chose to play Judge as a grounded figure caught between Brando’s visionary flights of fancy and the harsh realities of building on an uninhabitable island.
The actor also reflected on the evolving dynamic between the two men. While Brando pulled Judge into Tahitian culture and taught him to let go, Judge provided the technical expertise to keep Brando’s lofty plans tethered to reality. “It was definitely a symbiotic friendship,” Heder said, describing their relationship as a constant push and pull between pragmatism and idealism.
Of course, audiences may be most surprised by a moment that strips away more than Heder’s usual comedic persona. In a scene taken directly from Judge’s memoir, Heder and Zane dive into the ocean together, completely nude. Heder laughed about the sequence, noting that by the time they filmed it, he was so immersed in Judge’s journey that it felt natural: “I was full-on Bernard … succumbing to the passion of the island. Come on, let’s just get in there and do it!”
Waltzing with Brando premiered at the 2024 Torino Film Festival and arrives in U.S. theaters September 19, 2025. For Heder, the film marks a departure from his early comedic fame and a chance to embody a character navigating history, sustainability, and friendship in a way that feels both timely and timeless.
And as someone who grew up watching Napoleon Dynamite, speaking with Heder about this career turn felt surreal. Seeing him bring depth, humor, and a touch of vulnerability to Bernard Judge makes it clear: Jon Heder is still full of surprises.
Jessie Hobson