Disney, Rudin pic 'The Pet' switches into Hess

HessRudinDisney and producer Scott Rudin are becoming a classic pet project back ready to go, tapping "Napoleon Dynamite" director Jared Hess to helm the lengthy-gestating sci-fi family comedy "Your Pet.InchRudin, who moved his production shingle from Disney this past year to The new sony, is creating the live-action pic alongside Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor. According to an authentic idea from Matt Lieberman ("Short Circuit"), "Your PetInch focuses on a guy who's kidnapped by aliens, come to their planet and converted into a household pet.Rudin initially boarded "Your PetInch years back at Disney as he were built with a first-look deal at Miramax. However the project grew to become relatively dormant as he left a button House -- mainly because Disney offered Miramax and refocused on family-friendly films, departing Rudin's adult-skewing projects with no natural home."Your Pet,Inch however, fits the Disney mold."The Simpsons" helmer David Silverman have been connected to the family comedy, and despite a current rewrite from scribe Tim Dowling ("What This Means Is War"), "Your PetInch has become at the disposal of Hess, who'll oversee every aspect of creative development moving forward.The UTA-repped Hess' recent credits range from the Jack Black starrer "Nacho Libre" and 2009's "Gentlemen Broncos." He and wife Jerusha Hess will also be professional creating Fox's "Napoleon Dynamite" toon, in line with the 2004 indie hit comedy.Rudin just wrapped another busy honours season, getting created "Moneyball" and "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo." Contact Stuart Oldham at stuart.oldham@variety.com