New Line Reboots the "National Lampoon's Vacation" Franchise

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have been hired by New Line Cinema to pen a script that will essentially reboot the "National Lampoon's Vacation" franchise.

According to Variety:  Back in October, New Line announced their intentions for the new "Vacation," with David Dobkin producing and possibly directing.

The new film will be a reboot of the franchise, but also a type of sequel, since it will be about a now-adult Rusty Griswold--the son in the original films--and his own road trip, this time with his own wife and kids.

Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo would reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold in a film said to follow a darker and more interesting "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" style tone than the cruder antics of the various sequels.

As far as the writers go, you might recognize Daley from his childhood role as Sam Weir on "Freaks and Geeks." Goldstein and Daley currently have three other projects in various stages with New Line.

Although reboots and remakes have become increasingly common, I think this one has potential. Chevy Chase has had somewhat of a late-stage renaissance, especially with his work on “Community,” and I think Daley is ready to breakout as a writer.

I always was a fan of the “Vacation” films, especially “Vegas Vegation,” which might not have been the most well reviewed of the series, but it was one of my favorites.

Look for the new “Vacation” film sometime in 2011.