Last year the trades announced that a new sequel in the ever-popular National Lampoon’s ”Vacation” series was in the works.

The first Griswold outing since 1997′s “Vegas Vacation” would fix on a now fully-grown Rusty Griswold, son of original Vacationers Clark and Ellen (Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo), who’d be looking to treat his own family to a road trip.

It was suggested that Chase and D’Angelo would reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen – now grandparents – in the pic (which was to be shepherded by “Wedding Crashers” director Dave Dobkin), but that was mere speculation.

Hasn’t been a lot else to report on the project. Until today.

Now, hot on the tail of that “Vacation” TV short, it’s being reported that Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (the “Freaks & Geeks” and “Bones” star is now quite the in-demand screenwriter; this is the fourth script he’s done for New Line) have been charged the task of writing the script.

In that script, Rusty Griswold will be taking his own clan to the place where it all started for the seminal 80s family – Wally World, “before it closes forever”.

And yes, sounds like Chase – now on the verge of a comeback, thanks to his role on NBC’s “Community” – will be back as Clark. And so he should be. Wouldn’t be worth doing without Chase, would it?

Question remains, who will New Line court to play Rusty? Will they do what’s right and bring back Anthony Michael Hall (who played the character in the 1984 original)? Or will they – which is likely more the case – try and tie down one of the big comedy guns, like Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd or Will Ferrell (I actually heard from a pal at Warner not long after publishing the initial report who suggested Vince Vaughn may have been approached about playing Rusty, being good pals with Dobkin but also, one of the new comedy drawcards).

There’s more at Variety

Finally, here’s the “Hotel Hell Vacation” short, which reunited Chase and D’Angelo as the Griswolds.