Director Chris Columbus Quit THIS Film After Actor Chevy Chase Treated Him Like ‘S**t’; Recalls ‘Bizzare’ Meetings

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As a fervent admirer of Chris Columbus and his illustrious filmography, I find myself utterly captivated by his recent revelations about his tumultuous encounter with Chevy Chase during the making of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The anecdote paints a vivid picture of the enigmatic world of Hollywood, where the unexpected and bizarre are not just commonplace but often the norm.

Chris Columbus, renowned director, relinquished control over the successful 1989 holiday movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” which was subsequently taken up by Jeremiah S. Chechik. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Columbus shared that an unusual encounter with the film’s leading actor, Chevy Chase, prompted his decision to step down.

In his own words, Columbus said, “I had been brought on board… and it was then that I encountered Chevy Chase. Despite the fact that I was under immense pressure to produce a movie at that moment, I came to understand that I couldn’t possibly collaborate with him.

In a reported conversation, the director of Home Alone admitted to John Hughes (the writer of Christmas Vacation) that there were creative differences between them and the actor for the project. During their initial encounter with the Caddystick star, he apparently forgot that Columbus was directing the movie.

In our initial encounter, we found ourselves seated together, a private audience. Just the two of us. The scriptwriter emphasized that it was crucial for him to convey his directorial role in the movie. However, as he shared his vision and aspirations for the film, the actor is said to have remained speechless throughout.

Forty minutes into the meeting, Chase apparently questioned Columbus, “‘Hold on, are you the director?'” to which Columbus responded. He then shared an incredibly strange and unexpected comment, saying, “‘Oh, I thought you were a drummer.'” Columbus replied, “Uhh, OK. Let’s get back to discussing the film,” he recalled. To this day, Columbus continues to find it hard to understand their exchange.

At their second gathering, Hughes, the director expressed that he believed the actor had ignored him entirely, essentially becoming invisible to him. Furthermore, he mentioned that during their conversations, Chase and the deceased producer primarily talked about matters other than the movie.

During our two-hour meeting, I found myself departing with a sense of dismay, musing to myself, “It seems unlikely that I could collaborate on a film with him.” As we conversed, he seemed uninterested and downright disrespectful towards me. In that moment, I realized that I didn’t want to subject myself to such treatment again. Instead, I felt drawn to immerse myself in writing, seeking solace in the written word.

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2024-12-27 19:37