Home Alone Director Chris Columbus Slams Planned Disney+ Remake, Says Donald Trump Bullied His Way Into Cameo for the Sequel

– Insider.com recently spoke to Home Alone director Chris Columbus, since the film is about to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its 1990 release this week. During the interview, Columbus addressed the planned Home Alone reboot being produced for the Disney+ service that was announced last year. The reboot is set to star Archie Yates, Ellie Kemper and Rob Delaney. It will be directed by Dan Mazer from a screenplay by Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell. It does not yet have a release date.

Additionally, Columbus discussed President Donald Trump bullying his way into a cameo for Home Alone 2, which he also directed, so the production could shoot at the Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time. Below are some highlights of Columbus discussing the reboot and more:

On Donald Trump’s cameo in the second movie: “Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location. We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage. Trump said OK. We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.’ So we agreed to put him in the movie, and when we screened it for the first time the oddest thing happened: People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen. So I said to my editor, ‘Leave him in the movie. It’s a moment for the audience.’ But he did bully his way into the movie.”

On the Disney+ remake of Home Alone: “No, nobody got in touch with me about it, and it’s a waste of time as far as I’m concerned. What’s the point? I’m a firm believer that you don’t remake films that have had the longevity of Home Alone. You’re not going to create lightning in a bottle again. It’s just not going to happen. So why do it? It’s like doing a paint-by-numbers version of a Disney animated film — a live-action version of that. What’s the point? It’s been done. Do your own thing. Even if you fail miserably, at least you have come up with something original.”