Fudge! Practically 40 years after A Christmas Story premiered in theaters, the hit vacation traditional returned to the small display for a long-awaited sequel —and it was full of acquainted faces.
The 1983 film, which was primarily based on late raconteur Jean Shepherd’s In God We Belief, All Others Pay Money, follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends most of his time dodging a bully (Zack Ward) and dreaming of his ultimate Christmas present — a Purple Ryder air rifle. Set in December 1940, Ralphie finds himself at odds together with his robust father (Darren McGavin), comforted by his mom (Melinda Dillon) and struggling to make it to Christmas Day together 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 children of his personal, his purpose 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 film’s very a lot about Ralphie going residence, and in going residence you kind of unpack recollections, you unpack the previous a bit of bit, it’s one thing we will all relate to,” Billingsley informed Leisure Tonight in November 2022. “So, there’s some sprinkles of Easter eggs all through, however for certain, the steadiness was way more closely weighted on creating a brand new story for Ralphie [now that] he’s a dad. His life will not be actually within the place that he needs, and he goes residence and has to ship to his children a Christmas like he had rising 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 Purple Ryder rifle — and the Parker household residence. Varied 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 an alternative of Melinda Dillon.
“This was undoubtedly a reunion of the child solid, and it was quite a lot of enjoyable to suppose, ‘OK, what would Flick and Shwartz be like 30 years later,’” Billingsley informed ET of reuniting together with his former costars.
The Elf star added that the nostalgia issue is “one thing that audiences actually like” — particularly when it’s the identical actors enjoying the grownup variations of their characters.
“I believe that’s one of many issues that makes the film really feel particular and feels such as you’re proper again on the earth,” he shared.
Ward, for his half, echoed the Marvel Years alum’s sentiment, telling TV Insider that filming the sequel was like reuniting together with his “brothers.”
“We [had] lengthy nights simply sitting round speaking about life, which was nice. Ought to have filmed that a part of it!” he informed the outlet in November 2022.
Whereas there may be lots for followers of the primary film to take pleasure in, Billingsly ensured that the follow-up may also have its personal, recent take. “It’s undoubtedly an train in restraint — you don’t need the film to be only a bunch of callbacks with the autumn again on the unique. It was actually vital for me to be its personal story,” he defined to ET, noting that there his most likely much more “emotion” and “coronary heart” within the second movie then there was within the first.
Scroll all the way down to see the place the solid of A Christmas Story is now:
Credit score: Shutterstock (3)
The Forged of ‘A Christmas Story’: The place Are They Now?
Fudge! Practically 40 years after A Christmas Story premiered in theaters, the hit vacation traditional returned to the small display for a long-awaited sequel —and it was full of acquainted faces.
The 1983 film, which was primarily based on late raconteur Jean Shepherd’s In God We Belief, All Others Pay Money, follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends most of his time dodging a bully (Zack Ward) and dreaming of his ultimate Christmas present — a Purple Ryder air rifle. Set in December 1940, Ralphie finds himself at odds together with his robust father (Darren McGavin), comforted by his mom (Melinda Dillon) and struggling to make it to Christmas Day together 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 children of his personal, his purpose 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 film’s very a lot about Ralphie going residence, and in going residence you kind of unpack recollections, you unpack the previous a bit of bit, it’s one thing we will all relate to,” Billingsley informed Leisure Tonight in November 2022. “So, there’s some sprinkles of Easter eggs all through, however for certain, the steadiness was way more closely weighted on creating a brand new story for Ralphie [now that] he is a dad. His life will not be actually within the place that he needs, and he goes residence and has to ship to his children a Christmas like he had rising 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 Purple Ryder rifle — and the Parker household residence. Varied 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 an alternative of Melinda Dillon.
“This was undoubtedly a reunion of the child solid, and it was quite a lot of enjoyable to suppose, ‘OK, what would Flick and Shwartz be like 30 years later,'” Billingsley informed ET of reuniting together with his former costars.
The Elf star added that the nostalgia issue is “one thing that audiences actually like” — particularly when it’s the identical actors enjoying the grownup variations of their characters.
“I believe that is one of many issues that makes the film really feel particular and feels such as you’re proper again on the earth,” he shared.
Ward, for his half, echoed the Marvel Years alum’s sentiment, telling TV Insider that filming the sequel was like reuniting together with his “brothers.”
“We [had] lengthy nights simply sitting round speaking about life, which was nice. Ought to have filmed that a part of it!” he informed the outlet in November 2022.
Whereas there may be lots for followers of the primary film to take pleasure in, Billingsly ensured that the follow-up may also have its personal, recent take. “It is 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 vital for me to be its personal story,” he defined to ET, noting that there his most likely much more “emotion” and “coronary heart” within the second movie then there was within the first.
Scroll all the way down to see the place the solid of A Christmas Story is now:
Credit score: Shutterstock (2)
Peter Billingsley
Following his function as Ralphie, Billingsley was solid in numerous small display roles all through the ‘80s and ‘90s, enjoying Richmond Matzie on Punky Brewster and Micky Spiegel on The Marvel Years.
In 2003, Billingsly had a cameo in Elf alongside Will Ferrell as considered one of 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 Movies with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau.
In October 2015, Us Weekly confirmed that the previous little one 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’lease Strokes and Biff in Who’s the Boss? After making an look on Beverly Hills, 90210, the voice actor moved into animation and puppetry.
Credit score: Youtube ; Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Darren McGavin
After enjoying Ralphie’s father within the beloved vacation movie, McGavin starred in 1986’s Uncooked 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-Recordsdata 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 Folks 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 Regulation & Order: SVU in 2005, the actress made her remaining 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 World Sports activities Monetary Alternate — a program that permits individuals 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
Earlier than making a reputation for himself within the grownup movie business, Schwartz starred in 1985’s A Time to Reside and the 1987 TV collection 21 Leap Avenue reverse Johnny Depp.
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R.D. Robb
Earlier than nabbing a job within the ABC collection The Goldbergs, Robb appeared in The Brady Bunch Film (1996) and Matilda (1997).
