Chris Columbus recounts the bizarre encounter with Chevy Chase that forced him to step down as director of CHRISTMAS VACATION

Chris Colombowho is best known for bringing us At home alone, Mrs. Doubtand the first two Harry Potter film, he was the first director chosen for the classic Christmas film, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

He was friends with the writer of the film, John Hugheswho sent him the script, and he was excited to participate in the project, but after a strange meeting with the star of the film, Chevy Chasehe decided it wouldn’t work.

Columbus detailed the encounter in a meeting with Vanity Fairwhere he said he had contact with John Hughes, who was represented by the same agent at the time, following the release of a “complete disaster” of a film called Heartbreak hotels. After box office and critical failure, The breakfast club the director sent him the script Christmas holidays.

Columbus sprang into action, starting second unit filming in Chicago around Christmas. But then he met Chevy Chase:

“I got hired… and Then I met Chevy Chase. Even given my situation at the time, where I desperately needed to make a film, I realized that I couldn’t work with that guy.

“I was one of many who couldn’t work with him. And I called John and said, ‘This is really hard for me, but I can’t do this movie with Chevy Chase.'”

THE Gremlins Helmer took two meetings with Chase, during which Saturday night live the alum didn’t say a word for half an hour and dismissed him as the film’s director.

“Him I had knowing that I was directing the movie,” Columbus explained. “I talked about how I’d seen the movie, how I wanted to make it. He didn’t say anything. I talked for about a half hour.

“He didn’t say a word. And then he stops and says: and this doesn’t make sense to any human being on the planet, but I’ll tell you. I’ve probably never told this story.

“Forty minutes into the meeting, he says, ‘Wait a second. Are you the director?’ And I said, “Yeah… I’m directing the movie.” And he told me the most surreal, bizarre thing. I still haven’t been able to make any sense of it.

“He said, ‘Oh, I thought you were a drummer.’ I said, “Uhh, okay. Let’s start talking about the movie again.” After about 30 seconds, he said, ‘I have to go.'”

During the second meeting, at which Hughes was also present, the Mrs. Doubt the director said it was “virtually non-existent” and that Hughes and Chase discussed everything but the film. It was then that the decision was consolidated:

“First of all, he’s not engaged. He’s treating me like shit. I don’t need it. I’d rather not work anymore. I’d rather write. I thought: is this how we will work together? I’ll be on set and he won’t listen to me.

While it’s unclear whether Chase was playing a prank on Columbus or “disturbing” him, Jeremiah S. Cecenico he was asked to direct the 1989 film, his third in the 1980s Vacation series.

Columbus said he called Hughes and explained that he couldn’t continue with the project and that he was “not going to make a good movie with this guy and I’m going to disappoint you,” which Hughes calmly accepted.

But all’s well that ends well: the following weekend, Hughes sent in the script At home alone – and the rest is Christmas history.

I heard from so many sources that Chevy Chase was an idiot and was very difficult to work with. This is a real shame for me, as he was someone I grew up loving to watch, but I didn’t let it ruin the films he made.

I just wish he had been nicer to the people he worked with.

via: Deadline