Home Alone director Chris Columbus names actor who made him quit iconic comedy-Rishma Dosani-Entertainment – Metro

Chevy Chase starred in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation in 1989 (Picture: Getty)

Chris Columbus has opened up about his decision to exit an iconic Christmas movie, revealing that he struggled to work with the lead actor.

The 66-year-old has directed some of the most beloved films around, including the first two instalments of the Harry Potter franchise and Mrs Doubtfire.

Just days before he landed a job helming the first Home Alone movie, he was actually starting work on a very different festive classic with legendary producer John Hughes – until Chevy Chase got in the way.

Unpacking his excellent back catalog in a new interview with Vanity Fair, the filmmaker explained that he had been tapped to direct National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – the third in the Vacation franchise.

In fact, he had begun shooting ‘second unit’ footage, before things took a complete turn during two meetings with the lead star, who played Clark Griswold.

‘Even given my situation at the time, where I desperately needed to make a film, I realized I couldn’t work with the guy,’ he recalled. ‘Tale as old as time! I was one of the many who couldn’t work with him.

He appeared alongside Johnny Galecki, Beverly D’Angelo and Juliette Lewis (Picture: Getty)

‘My first meeting with him, I sat down with him. It was just the two of us. He had to know I was directing the movie. I talked about how I saw the movie, how I wanted to make the movie. He didn’t say anything. I went through about a half hour of talking. He didn’t say a word.

‘40 minutes into the meeting, he says, “Wait a second. You’re the director?” And I said, “Yeah…I’m directing the film.” And he said to me the most surreal, bizarre thing. I still haven’t been able to make any sense out of it. He said, “Oh, I thought you were a drummer.” I said, “Uhh, okay. Let’s start talking about the film again.” After about 30 seconds, he said, “I got to go.”’

Hughes joined them for the second chat, but Columbus had reached the end of his tether, who felt disrespected by the Community actor.

‘We spent two hours together, and I left the dinner and I thought, there’s no way I can make a movie with this guy. First of all, he’s not engaged,’ he continued. ‘He’s treating me like s**t. I don’t need this. I’d rather not work again. I’d rather write.’

He revealed that Chase was behind his decision to leave (Picture: Getty)

This isn’t the first time Chase has come under fire for being unprofessional – Community creator Dan Harmon revealed he would often try ‘to disrupt’ co-star Donald Glover’s scenes, and ‘made racial cracks between takes’ on set.

‘Chevy was the first to realize how immensely gifted Donald was, and the way he expressed his jealousy was to try to throw Donald off,’ he said in a 2018 New Yorker profile.

‘I remember apologizing to Donald after a particularly rough night of Chevy’s non-PC verbiage, and Donald said, “I don’t even worry about it.”‘

‘I just saw Chevy as fighting time — a true artist has to be okay with his reign being over,’ Glover said. ‘I can’t help him if he’s thrashing in the water. But I know there’s a human in there somewhere – he’s almost too human.’

Addressing his former co-star’s comments, the comedian said: ‘I am saddened to hear that Donald perceived me in that light.’

Chris Columbus was originally set to direct the movie before departing (Picture: Getty)

Columbus eventually left Christmas Vacation and Jeremiah S Chechik stepped in as director, with the third movie in the franchise hitting the big screen on December 1, 1989.

Chase remained in the lead role alongside Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid.

Just days after Columbus departed the movie, Hughes – who died in 2009 – handed him an even better opportunity, without Chase this time.

‘I quit Christmas Vacation. The next weekend, I got another script from John—and it’s Home Alone,’ he added. ‘Home Alone, for me, was even more personal, a better script. And I thought, I can really do something with this, and I don’t have to deal with Chevy Chase. That was it.’

Chris went on to direct Home Alone the following year (Picture: 20th Century Fox)

Home Alone premiered in November, 1990, and ended up raking in more than $476million at the global box office.

It also landed the record for highest-grossing live-action comedy in the Guiness World Records, before the Hangover Part II.

Not too shabby…

Metro.co.uk has contacted Chase’s reps for a comment.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More