Fudge! Nearly 40 years after A Christmas Story premiered in theaters, the hit vacation basic returned to the small display for a long-awaited sequel —and it was stuffed with acquainted faces.
The 1983 film, which was primarily based on late raconteur Jean Shepherd’s In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends most of his time dodging a bully (Zack Ward) and dreaming of his supreme Christmas present — a Red Ryder air rifle. Set in December 1940, Ralphie finds himself at odds along with his robust father (Darren McGavin), comforted by his mom (Melinda Dillon) and struggling to make it to Christmas Day along with his glasses intact.
The sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, premiered on HBO Max on November 17, 2022, and catches up with Ralphie (nonetheless portrayed by Billingsley) at a distinct stage in his life. Now an grownup with youngsters of his personal, his objective is to offer his kids the final word Christmas celebration — experiencing each the thrill and struggles of the vacation season alongside the best way.
“The movie’s very much about Ralphie going home, and in going home you sort of unpack memories, you unpack the past a little bit, it’s something we can all relate to,” Billingsley informed Entertainment Tonight in November 2022. “So, there’s some sprinkles of Easter eggs throughout, but for sure, the balance was much more heavily weighted on creating a new story for Ralphie [now that] he’s a dad. His life is not really in the place that he wants, and he goes home and has to deliver to his kids a Christmas like he had growing up.”
The movie additionally brings followers again to Hohman, Indiana, giving a glimpse of Higbee’s — the division retailer the place Ralphie requested Santa Claus for his Red Ryder rifle — and the Parker household house. Various characters from the beloved unique return to the display together with Ralphie’s little brother, Randy (Ian Petrella), and native bully Scutt Farkus. Mrs. Parker, Ralphie’s mother, can be again, this time being portrayed by Julie Hagerty as a substitute of Melinda Dillon.
“This was definitely a reunion of the kid cast, and it was a lot of fun to think, ‘OK, what would Flick and Shwartz be like 30 years later,’” Billingsley informed ET of reuniting along with his former costars.
The Elf star added that the nostalgia issue is “something that audiences really like” — particularly when it’s the identical actors enjoying the grownup variations of their characters.
“I think that’s one of the things that makes the movie feel special and feels like you’re right back in the world,” he shared.
Ward, for his half, echoed the Wonder Years alum’s sentiment, telling TV Insider that filming the sequel was like reuniting along with his “brothers.”
“We [had] long nights just sitting around talking about life, which was great. Should have filmed that part of it!” he informed the outlet in November 2022.
While there’s a lot for followers of the primary film to get pleasure from, Billingsly ensured that the follow-up will even have its personal, contemporary take. “It’s definitely an exercise in restraint — you don’t want the movie to be just a bunch of callbacks with the fall back on the original. It was really important for me to be its own story,” he defined to ET, noting that there his in all probability much more “emotion” and “heart” within the second movie then there was within the first.
Scroll right down to see the place the solid of A Christmas Story is now:
Credit: Shutterstock (3)
The Cast of ‘A Christmas Story’: Where Are They Now?
Fudge! Nearly 40 years after A Christmas Story premiered in theaters, the hit vacation basic returned to the small display for a long-awaited sequel —and it was stuffed with acquainted faces.
The 1983 film, which was primarily based on late raconteur Jean Shepherd’s In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends most of his time dodging a bully (Zack Ward) and dreaming of his supreme Christmas present — a Red Ryder air rifle. Set in December 1940, Ralphie finds himself at odds along with his robust father (Darren McGavin), comforted by his mom (Melinda Dillon) and struggling to make it to Christmas Day along with his glasses intact.
The sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, premiered on HBO Max on November 17, 2022, and catches up with Ralphie (nonetheless portrayed by Billingsley) at a distinct stage in his life. Now an grownup with youngsters of his personal, his objective is to offer his kids the final word Christmas celebration — experiencing each the thrill and struggles of the vacation season alongside the best way.
“The movie’s very much about Ralphie going home, and in going home you sort of unpack memories, you unpack the past a little bit, it’s something we can all relate to,” Billingsley informed Entertainment Tonight in November 2022. “So, there’s some sprinkles of Easter eggs throughout, but for sure, the balance was much more heavily weighted on creating a new story for Ralphie [now that] he’s a dad. His life is not really in the place that he wants, and he goes home and has to deliver to his kids a Christmas like he had growing up.”
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The movie additionally brings followers again to Hohman, Indiana, giving a glimpse of Higbee’s — the division retailer the place Ralphie requested Santa Claus for his Red Ryder rifle — and the Parker household house. Various characters from the beloved unique return to the display together with Ralphie’s little brother, Randy (Ian Petrella), and native bully Scutt Farkus. Mrs. Parker, Ralphie’s mother, can be again, this time being portrayed by Julie Hagerty as a substitute of Melinda Dillon.
“This was definitely a reunion of the kid cast, and it was a lot of fun to think, ‘OK, what would Flick and Shwartz be like 30 years later,'” Billingsley informed ET of reuniting along with his former costars.
The Elf star added that the nostalgia issue is “something that audiences really like” — particularly when it’s the identical actors enjoying the grownup variations of their characters.
“I feel that is one of many issues that makes the film really feel particular and feels such as you’re proper again on this planet,” he shared.
Ward, for his half, echoed the Wonder Years alum’s sentiment, telling TV Insider that filming the sequel was like reuniting along with his “brothers.”
“We [had] long nights just sitting around talking about life, which was great. Should have filmed that part of it!” he informed the outlet in November 2022.
While there’s a lot for followers of the primary film to get pleasure from, Billingsly ensured that the follow-up will even have its personal, contemporary take. “It’s undoubtedly an train in restraint — you do not need the film to be only a bunch of callbacks with the autumn again on the unique. It was actually necessary for me to be its personal story,” he defined to ET, noting that there his in all probability much more “emotion” and “heart” within the second movie then there was within the first.
Scroll right down to see the place the solid of A Christmas Story is now:
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
Peter Billingsley
Following his function as Ralphie, Billingsley was solid in quite a lot of small display roles all through the ‘80s and ‘90s, enjoying Richmond Matzie on Punky Brewster and Micky Spiegel on The Wonder Years.
In 2003, Billingsly had a cameo in Elf alongside Will Ferrell as one among Santa’s helpers.
The New York native made his directorial debut in 2009 with the romantic comedy Couple’s Retreat and is a cofounder of the manufacturing firm Wild West Films with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau.
In October 2015, Us Weekly confirmed that the previous youngster actor was engaged to longtime girlfriend Buffy Bains.
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Ian Petrella
Following his portrayal of Ralphie’s little brother, Petrella went on to star as Alex in Diff’hire Strokes and Biff in Who’s the Boss? After making an look on Beverly Hills, 90210, the voice actor moved into animation and puppetry.
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Darren McGavin
After enjoying Ralphie’s father within the beloved vacation movie, McGavin starred in 1986’s Raw Deal, 1990’s Captain America and 1995’s Billy Madison reverse Adam Sandler. In 1990, the actor acquired an Emmy nomination for his visitor function on Murphy Brown.
The X-Files alum was married thrice. He tied the knot with Anita Marie Williams in 1942 earlier than shifting on with Melanie York in 1944. The pair divorced after greater than 25 years of marriage, and McGavin wed Kathie Browne in 1969.
McGavin died of heart problems in 2006 on the age of 83. Billingsly informed People in November 2022 that A Christmas Story 2 was “a love letter” to his onscreen dad.
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Melinda Dillon
Like McGavin, Dillon was featured in 1990’s Captain America. She additionally starred in 1991’s The Prince of Tides and 1999’s Magnolia.
After her visitor function on Law & Order: SVU in 2005, the actress made her ultimate onscreen look in 2007.
Dillon was married to ex-husband Richard Libertini from 1963 to 1978, and the pair share son Richard Libertini Jr.
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Zack Ward
Ward went on to land roles in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2003) and Transformers (2007) earlier than being solid on American Horror Story.
In 2017, the Canada native helped launch the Global Sports Financial Exchange — a program that enables folks to spend money on sports activities groups.
Ward tied the knot with producer Jennifer McMahon in 2018 after 5 years of courting.
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Scott Schwartz
Before making a reputation for himself within the grownup movie business, Schwartz starred in 1985’s A Time to Live and the 1987 TV collection 21 Jump Street reverse Johnny Depp.
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R.D. Robb
Before nabbing a task within the ABC collection The Goldbergs, Robb appeared in The Brady Bunch Movie (1996) and Matilda (1997).
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