Chris Columbus quit as original director of ‘Christmas Vacation’

A “bizarre” encounter with actor Chevy Chase caused then-unknown filmmaker Chris Columbus to walk away National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The Nosferatu Recalling the experience publicly for the first time, the producer shared that Chase’s disrespectful interactions with him caused him to quit at a time when he desperately needed a next project.

In a new sit down with Vanity FairColumbus told of the connection with John Hughes, who was represented by the same agent at the time, after the release of a “complete disaster” of a film called Heartbreak Hotel. After the ticket sales and critical failure, The Breakfast Club director sent him the script to Christmas holiday.

Columbus got going and started shooting the second unit in Chicago around Christmas time.

“I was signed on…and so I met Chevy Chase. Even given my situation at the time when I desperately needed to make a film, I realized I couldn’t work with the guy,” he said. “I was one of the many who could not work with him. And I called John and I 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 alum didn’t say a word for half an hour and rejected him as the director of the film.

“He had knowing that I directed the movie,” Columbus explained. “I talked about how I saw the film, how I wanted to make the film. He didn’t say anything. I talked for about half an hour. He didn’t say a word. And then he stops and he says – and it makes no sense to any human being on the planet, but I’m telling you. I probably never told this story. Forty minutes into the meeting he says, ‘Wait a minute. Are you the director?’ And I said, ‘Yes … I’m directing the movie.’ 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, ‘Uh, okay. Let’s start talking about the movie again.’ After about 30 seconds he said, ‘I’m going.’

During the second meeting, in which Hughes was also present, it remained Mrs. Doubtfire director said he was “basically non-existent” and that Hughes and Chase discussed everything but the film. That was when the decision was made: “First of all, he is not engaged. He treats me like sh–. I don’t need this. I would rather not work again. I’d rather write,” he said. “I was like, is this how we’re supposed to work together? I’m going to be on set and he’s not listening.” (VF said Chase did not respond to a request for comment.)

Although it is unclear whether Chase was playing a joke on Columbus or “fogging” him, Jeremiah S. Chechnik was brought in to direct the 1989 film, the third of the 80s Holiday series. Columbus said he called Hughes and explained that he could not continue with the project and “didn’t want to make a good movie with this guy and I’m going to let you down,” which Hughes took in stride.

But all’s well that ends well: The following weekend, Hughes sent the script to Alone at home — and the rest is Christmas history.