Archie Yates explains why the upcoming Home Alone reboot is nerve-wracking for him. Yates made his acting debut with 2019’s Jojo Rabbit, portraying the breakout character of Yorki. In a supporting role, the young performer was often praised in reviews for being a comedic scene-stealer.
It was announced, back in December 2019, that Yates would lead a reboot of the Home Alone franchise. Set to be directed by Dan Mazer, with Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell writing the script, the new film is titled Home Sweet Home Alone. It focuses on Max Mercer (Yates), a 12-year-old boy who is grounded and left alone for the holidays when his family goes on a trip to Japan. Soon, he finds that he has to defend his home from a married couple that wants to steal a priceless heirloom. With a cast that includes Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, and Kenan Thompson, along with a cameo from original Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin, the reboot will arrive on Disney+ on November 12.
In an interview with Screen Rant to promote his role as Sprout in Wolfboy and the Everything Factory, which is currently available to stream on Apple TV+, Yates opened up about Home Sweet Home Alone. The actor explained that he was already aware of the significance of the project, and how it could lead to him being recognized on a larger scale. In the same vein, however, he did confess that the prospect was a little nerve-wracking. You can read Yates’ quote below.
“The ‘Home Alone’ reboot is a very, very nerve-wracking and yet exciting topic for me because I feel like this is the thing that’s going to make me become big in acting platforms, and I’m really excited because, not only does it mean that I get to be a part of an amazing film, but a lot of people are going to start recognizing me now in public. So, that is kind of nerve-wracking but I’m all down for it, yeah.”
Looking at the massive success of Home Alone, it’s easy to understand why Yates would feel a little nervous. After its release in November 1990, the film grossed $476.7 million at the box office worldwide to become the highest-earning comedy of all time. It kept that distinction until the premiere of The Hangover Part II in 2011. And, in addition to being considered one of the best Christmas movies of all time, it launched a franchise and catapulted Culkin into superstardom at a young age. The legacy of the film alone is something that Yates, and others involved with the project, surely have in mind as they move forward with their own version.
Home Sweet Home Alone has its differences, of course. It will stream on Disney+ at a time when one single movie has less of a chance to capture all of the attention, due to the sheer amount of entertainment options available. But even with that caveat, it remains a high-profile comedy that will inevitably invite plenty of comparisons to the original. All the same, with his candid response, it sounds like Yates is more than up for the challenge.