Since everything they’ve tried after Christmas Vacation has been an absolute dud, National Lampoon is digging up the original Vacation series for a sequel. Even though Christmas Vacation and European Vacation were sorta sequels with Christmas Vacation having a sequel/spin-off of sorts (I swear I need a map to keep all these National Lampoon movies together). The new film will star Ed Helms as the grown and married Rusty Griswold, son of Clark (Chevy Chase) and Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo). And, yes, the parents will be appearing in the movie also. Though I doubt that’s a major boost, it at least maintains a sense of continuity. The cast will also feature Christina Applegate, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlie Day among others. The screenplay, after being tossed around by several writers, will be penned by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley who will also be directing. Check out the press release below:
BURBANK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. Shooting has begun in Georgia on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films) on the road for another ill-fated adventure. The film marks Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins (“A Haunted House 2”), who play Rusty’s sons, James and Kevin. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold from the classic “Vacation” comedies.
Goldstein & Daley (“Horrible Bosses,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”) wrote the script, based on characters created by John Hughes. David Dobkin (upcoming “The Judge,” “Wedding Crashers”) and Chris Bender (“We’re the Millers,” upcoming “Horrible Bosses 2”) are producing, with Marc S. Fischer serving as executive producer.
The directors’ behind-the-scenes creative team also includes director of photography Barry Peterson (the “Jump Street” films, “We’re the Millers”), production designer Barry Robison (“Wedding Crashers,” “Pitch Perfect”), and costume designer Debra McGuire (“Ted”).
“Vacation” is a New Line Cinema presentation and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.
Source: Slashfilm