'Vacation' sequel booked at New Line

New Line is going on a "Vacation."

The Warner Bros. division is developing a sequel of sorts to the 1983 comedy classic, with David Dobkin attached to produce and possibly direct. 

New Line is meeting with writers to pen the script, but the take is already developed: The story focuses on Rusty Griswold, the son of Clark Griswold, the protagonist of the initial movies and portrayed by Chevy Chase. Rusty, now a father himself, takes his family on a road trip vacation.

The characters would acknowledge that first trip, making the movie more of a sequel than a reboot. Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, who played the mom in the original movies, will have room to make appearances as grandparents, providing a sense of continuity, though no deals are in place.

The original “Vacation” is a Warner Bros. property, but as soon as New Line became part of the studio, exec Sam Brown began sifting through the parent company’s titles to see what was available in terms of rights. He eventually found “Vacation,” a movie he said he has watched more than any other in his life, and brought it to New Line president Toby Emmerich and production president Richard Brener, who jumped at the opportunity. The duo asked Warners brass if it had any plans with the title. It did not, and the New Line execs persuaded them to let them take a crack at it. Brown is shepherding for New Line.

National Lampoon is not involved at this stage, as Warners controls the characters and the title.

New Line is taking meetings with writers this week, hoping to make a movie that skews more toward “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” or “Little Miss Sunshine” than “RV” or “Are We There Yet?”

“Vacation” brings CAA-repped Dobkin back in business with New Line, for whom he directed and produced “Wedding Crashers.”

Comments

[Meekman]

"...hoping to make a movie that skews more towards “Planes Trains and Automobiles” or “Little Miss Sunshine” than “RV” or “Are We There Yet?”..."

That sounds like a step in the right direction. The latter films were obviously rushed, whereas the former were crafted out of passion for creating a good story. This is why "Vegas Vacation" suffered from a bad script, but "Christmas Vacation" was very good.

Here's the trick to get butts in seats: make a good movie out of a good script. It's that easy.

[Clark W.]

Just a cameo by Chevy Chase? Gimme a break. If there's a new Vacation movie, he should definitely star in it.

[momoftwo]

Hopefully they'll Cast Anthony Michael Hall as Rusty. Normally this would be a no brainer but you know how Hollywood is....

[Steaming Pile]

Please don't make it suck. That's all I'm asking.

[Whatchoo]

Anthony Michael Hall really could pull off a clueless authoritative dad for this part and I really hope they give him a shot (and Chevy Chase should really come along for the trip as Granddad).
That being said, I'm sure they'll cast Dane Cook and make it suck.

[Taunya]

I am looking forward to this. I hope they go through with it. I loved the Griswalds.

[Katie]

Anthony Michael Hall as Rusty, and the grandparents definitely need to come along for the ride. Chevy Chase is what made the Vacation franchise great and without him, I don't think I could get into it. I know they're aging, but man I'd love to see some of the greats from the 80's incorporated into this. (Christie Brinkley included.)

[Maritza]

Anthony Michael Hall should definitely play the part and Chevy and Beverly without a doubt should be part of the trip.

[EMD]

Permanent Vacation. Clark retires to Florida. Or Arizona.

[squire]

They should visit the grandparents on their trip, kill off Beverly, put her on the roof of the car to transport her to her resting spot. Then rescue Christie Brinkley along side the road get her into the car, then have Beverly come bad to life.

[Jeff]

I thing the Griswolds should take off on an adventure to rescue Cousin Eddie and his wife from an angry mob who are after them for skipping out on a large hotel bill.

[Adam]

Like most others said, Anthony Michael Hall and the grandparents are critical to this being a watchable movie.

[Bob]

Why can't Hollywood simply come up with fresh ideas? Why is this man's job to sift through movies that have already been made to see if there are any franchises from which he can squeeze a little more money? And they wonder why this business is dying.

[Kieran]

I agree with you. Hall, Chase, D'Angelo & Baron are required -- or else trash the whole idea. They made a Xmas Vacation sequel for TV with just Randy Quaid & it was unwatchable.

Props go out to the late great John Hughes, who first created the Griswalds in his short story "Vacation '58," and to Chevy for really rocking Clark to life. The other original actors were great too.

Now if we could only get Harold Ramis back behind the camera...

[gmoney]

This would work perfect with Ryan Reynolds or Bradley Cooper as Rusty..and sister will be either Meg Ryan or Jennifer Anniston

[Linda]

"I can't get left! I can't get left!"

And

"Sparky, I'm so glad we're pigs."

Two of my fave lines from European Vacation. My husband worked Las Vegas Vacation.

Favorite Randy Quaid line: "The shitter's full." LOL That was from Christmas Vacation.

I agree, Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo should definitely play more than cameo roles in this version. Michael Anthony Hall would rock as the dad, although Kieran has some good suggestions with Ryan Reynolds or Bradley Cooper as Rusty. I'd lean more toward Reynolds than Cooper, though.

[doody]

These two Rustys would be good.....Johnny Galecki (Roseanne, Big Bang Theory) or Ethan Embry (That Thing You Do).....

[doody]

'No' to Ryan Reynolds. Sorry. He's not funny.

They should also bring back Juliette Lewis.

[Tim Malooly]

My friend and I already wrote a prequel to this series--called "National Lampoon's Honeymoon," with a present-day framework in Los Angeles at Audrey's wedding (with roles for Chevy, Beverly, Randy, Johnny Galecki, and Juliette Lewis).

The bulk of the story is a flashback to Clark & Ellen courtship in college, their wedding, and their wild honeymoon in Acapulco in the 1970s.

But we don't have an agent and haven't been able to get anybody to read our script. If you're reading, New Line/Dobkin--let's take a meeting!

-Tim Malooly
[malooly(at)hotmail.com]