After nearly four decades since the theatrical release of A Christmas Story, Deadline brings word that Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures have teamed up to produce the upcoming sequel to the classic comedy holiday film, which will be titled A Christmas Story Christmas.
The project is being developed as an HBO Max film, with original star Peter Billingsley (Couples Retreat) signing on to reprise his iconic role as Ralphie Parker. Production is expected to begin at the end of February in Bulgaria.
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A Christmas Story Christmas will be directed by Clay Kaytis (The Christmas Chronicles) from a screenplay written by Nick Schenk. According to the outlet’s sources, Julie Hagerty (Airplane!, Just Friends) has also been cast to join Billingsley as Ralphie’s mother, a character previously portrayed by Oscar nominee Melinda Dillon in the 1983 film.
“The sequel follows an adult Ralphie in the 1970s, who returns to the house on Cleveland Street to deliver his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had growing up,” reads the synopsis. “With the same attention to real-life tone of the first, Ralphie reconnects with childhood friends, reconciles the passing of his Old Man and sews the seeds for the origins of the beloved holiday classic.”
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The HBO Max project will be produced by Billingsley and Vince Vaughn through their Wild West Picture Show banner. It will be executive produced by Schenk, with Legendary’s Cale Boyter and Jay Ashenfelter overseeing the sequel on the behalf of the studio.
