Jim Varney’s ‘Ernest’ Franchise Returns With ‘Son Of Ernest’

Jim Varney’s Ernest franchise is slated to get the reboot treatment with the upcoming motion picture Son of Ernest, the folks at Worst Previews are reporting. Although the appearance of a son would suggest that, at one point in time, one of the world’s goofiest cinematic characters engaged in some sort of odd sexual activity, that’s not stopping creator John Cherry from heading back to the franchise once again.

The reboot, which would find Cherry serving as producer, will reportedly chronicle the exploits of Ernest P. Worrell’s long lost son. Although such like-minded endeavors as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr. and Son of the Mask didn’t pan out as many had hoped, this isn’t stopping the latest installment of the Ernest franchise from moving forward.

While no one has been selected to play Ernest’s son as of this writing, Dan Ewen is currently working on the script. “Ernest was this plucky little engine that could — against all odds,” he explained to Variety. “Ernest struck a nerve, one we’re going to revisit. We plan to honor the originals and Jim Varney while birthing a new chapter that lies somewhere between not sucking and Earth-shatteringly funny.”

First Showing managed to get their hands on a copy of the promotional poster that accompanied the Son of Ernest press release. In addition to the image you see embedded below, the website also received a message from Ewen, who seems well aware of the daunting task of scripting an Ernest sequel without its star, the legendary Jim Varney.

“I am the sick bastard who’s been handed the Jaws of Life in the hope that he can resurrect the glorious marriage of camp and shameful giggles that is the ‘Ernest’ franchise,” the writer explained. “I accept this charge knowing the risks, and fully aware that my family could disown me if the resulting cinematic experience is less than pure genius.”

Sadly, Jim Varney, the man who embodied Ernest P. Worrell with every inch of his being in no less than nine motion pictures, passed away in 2000. Son of Ernest would effectively serve as the first movie without its iconic star.

Do you think the Ernest franchise should be rebooted with Son of Ernest?