Fans hoping to see Macaulay Culkin reprise his iconic role as Kevin McCallister in a Home Alone reboot will likely be disappointed, as director Chris Columbus recently made it clear he’s not on board with the idea.
Columbus, who directed the original Home Alone in 1990 and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in 1992, opened up about why he thinks trying to recreate the magic of the classic holiday films would be a mistake.
In a recent chat with Entertainment Tonight, Columbus explained, “I think Home Alone really exists as, not at this timepiece, but it was this very special moment, and you can’t really recapture that.” He added, “I think it’s a mistake to try to go back and recapture something we did 35 years ago. I think it should be left alone.”
His comments come just after Culkin hinted that he’d be open to returning to the role of Kevin—under the right circumstances. At a screening and Q&A last December, Culkin revealed, “I would think about it if the pay was enough,” explaining he’d once been offered a role in a future Home Alone sequel.
“I have ideas, but I don’t have time to write anything with my two children,” Culkin added, showing he’s busy with his growing family.
The original Home Alone film introduced audiences to eight-year-old Kevin, who’s accidentally left behind when his family flies off to France for the holidays. Left to fend for himself, Kevin uses his wits to set up an elaborate set of traps to protect his house from two clumsy burglars. It became a holiday classic, and the follow-up Home Alone 2: Lost in New York kept the magic going with the same star-studded team.
However, after the second film, the franchise moved on without Culkin. New child actors led the way in Home Alone 3 (1997), Home Alone 4 (2002), Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012), and Home Sweet Home Alone (2021).
In 2018, there were even talks about Ryan Reynolds producing a twist on the Home Alone concept with an R-rated version called Stoned Alone. But the project has since stalled and hasn’t progressed any further.
While the Home Alone franchise has found new life through various reboots and spinoffs, Columbus’ comments suggest that the charm of the original film might remain untouchable—unless, of course, some holiday miracle changes his mind.