The Vacation “reboot” (which actually sounds more like a sequel, but that’s another story), has stalled over “creative differences,” according to THR. Specifically, over whether it should aim for an R rating like the original, or PG-13, in order to reach a larger audience and dolla dolla bill y’all.

New Line has put the brakes on the high-profile reboot of the classic Chevy Chase comedy, which is set to star Ed Helms as a grown-up version of Rusty Griswold on his own family road trip from hell. The movie was scheduled to shoot in Atlanta in July and was in active preproduction. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein wrote the script and are to make their directorial debut on the reboot-slash-remake. Christina Applegate is also on board to star as Helms’ wife and original franchise stars Chase and Beverly D’Angelo were to make cameos. |THR|

As of now, no one knows who was in which camp in the disagreement. Daley and Goldstein last wrote Horrible Bosses (R) and Burt Wonderstone (PG-13). The conventional wisdom (and movie studios are nothing if not conventional) is that PG-13 comedies are a safer bet at the box office, since they’re drawing from a larger pool of possible audience members. Of course, that didn’t hold true for the last two movies these guys wrote - Horrible Bosses, $117 million worldwide; Burt Wonderstone, $22 million worldwide. And let’s be honest, a big part of the reason most of these beloved eighties comedies are remembered so fondly is because we saw them when we were kids, when “shitter’s full” was still kind of naughty, and thus something you’d watch over and over. But you show me a studio exec that cares more about a film’s legacy than its opening weekend and I’ll show you an eight-dicked unicorn. Obviously I’m a little bit biased, being a cuss-mouthed cocksucker, but the idea that a PG-13 comedy has a better chance of making money than an R-rated one seems dubious at best. What are the most successful recent comedies you can think of? The Hangover? Bridesmaids? R. R. The most successful comedy reboot? 21 Jump Street? Also R. Meanwhile, how’d that PG-13 remake of Arthur starring Russell Brand work out?

All I know is, you know your project is in trouble when you’re having creative differences before Chevy Chase has even read the script.

In news that will delight fans of Old Navy commercials and enrage National Lampoon’s Vacation purists, who feel that the series ended perfectly with 1997′s Vegas Vacation, and to do another movie would be like pissing on Randy Quaid’s legacy the way Canada did to…Randy Quaid, Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are in talks to reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold in the rebooted Vacation.

The new version of the Griswolds’ Vacation adventures will follow grown-up son Rusty (Helms), who now has his own family misadventures on the road, which includes making a pit stop to see his mom and dad. Though the roles are more on the cameo level, there was concern when it wasn’t clear whether Chase and D’Angelo would return to the franchise they started 30 years ago. After the budget was set and script was given a polish, the producers redoubled their efforts to include them in the reboot. (Via)

If the rumor proves true, Brown Sugar and Chase, a.k.a. Racist Old Man on Community, will join The Office‘s Ed Helms (Rusty) and Up All Night‘s Christina Applegate (Rusty’s wife) in John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein’s NBC Thursday night love-fest. So, by the powers vested in me by the state of Wanting to See Vince Explode, Parks and Recreation‘s Aubrey Plaza will play Audrey #17.

At least they don’t need a new Christie Brinkley.

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DON’T YOU CLOSE THAT DOOR, C-TATES!

I don’t know, you guys. I really don’t even know how to break this news to you all right now. I guess it’s Band-Aid time, so let’s rip it right off – Channing Tatum is going to take a break from acting in 2013.

“[Reid Carolin and I] have about three to four ideas that we love that are all in the hopper. By the end of next year, we’re going to shut things down and write the first thing that we’re going to direct. We’re going to be like, alright, no more acting parts for a minute, let’s take a few and really get caring about that section of our career.” (Via EW)

Do you want to know how serious he is? Tatum has already been ruled out of playing Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey film series. Sorry ladies, but you can put your burnt vibrators away.

No, this isn’t about his fans. This is about what he wants. What HE wants. I’ve never witnessed something so incredibly selfish in my life – “Peep me, I B C-Tates n I’m all GQ’s Movie Star of da Year, People’s Sexiest Man Alive n BET’s Hottest Homeboy! I’m an A-lizzlezister now and want 2 has a mad serious career and make joints dat mean some’n 2 me n not have my restaurant open when Burnsy visits New Orleans!”

What about your fans, Channing? Yeah, that’s right, I called you Channing. You’re not C-Tates to me right now. You’re just some dude, who is actually probably going to focus on being a father, trying to “do what’s best for him”. Disgusting.

Well, Tatum fans, enjoy the world’s greatest actor while he lasts, because when 2013 hits in a few weeks, you’re only going to be able to see Channing Tatum in GI Joe: Retaliation, Side Effects, White House Down and Foxcatcher. And then in 2014? Just The Contortionist’s Handbook, 21 Jump Street 2 and Jupiter Ascending. That’s it. That’s all you get.

What a jerk.

Sh*tter's full, guys. Sh*tter's full.

New Line Cinema has hired writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein to reboot the classic Chevy Chase Vacation franchise, and if you’re about to shout at God and ask, “Why would they do this?”, don’t bother. You should have seen it coming.

The newest version will revisit the original National Lampoon’s Vacation cast, with Anthony Michael Hall reprising his role as the first Rusty Griswold, as opposed to the other Rustys, like pig face, the kid who was suddenly younger than Audrey, and Ethan Embry. Simply titled Vacation, the new film will focus on Rusty as the Griswold patriarch as he and his family embark on their first family trip, which will undoubtedly include them bumping into Clark and Ellen, because Chase and Beverly D’Angelo could probably use the cash.

Don’t worry, though, New Line says that the project is in good hands. Now punch that moose in the nose, L.A. Times:

The writers on the film (also the writers, incidentally, on “Horrible Bosses”) have finished a second draft of the script, and studio New Line is eager to get moving on the reboot, according to a person briefed on the project who was not authorized to talk about it publicly.

The company is reaching out to potential directors, said the person, including Pete Segal, the director of “50 First Dates,” who has some experience with reviving classic comedies, having directed the remakes of “The Longest Yard” and “Get Smart.”

Because when I think classic comedy revival success stories, I think The Longest Yard and Get Smart. But cynicism aside, this isn’t the worst idea to ever come from Hollywood. It could be nice to see a new Griswold clan hit the road and revive the hilarity of East St. Louis racism, dead family members and proud incest. That is, until they cast Rob Schneider as Cousin Eddie’s son and then all bets are off.

(The only Photoshop idea I could think of was “National Lamb Poon.”  I am… so very ashamed.)

Though

The latest project, which will no longer carry the National Lampoon credit, is being described as more of an update than a sequel and will be closer in tone to “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” than the previous chapters. Story will focus on Rusty Griswold, now a grown man, who decides to take his own wife and kids on a road trip to Wally World before it closes forever. Chase is expected to reprise his role as Clark Griswold, now a grandfather. [Variety]

I let a hooker give me a rusty griswold once.  Once.  Anyway, it’s hard to know what to make of this kid, since while this is his fourth writing credit, none of his projects have yet been finished.  But I can only imagine his process involves staring at the screen going “HURRRRRRRR.”

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