‘A Christmas Story’ sequel to focus on grown-up Ralphie

Receiving a gift even better than a Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot range-model air rifle, fans of “A Christmas Story” learned Thursday that the original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley, may return for a sequel to the beloved holiday film.

Deadline reports that Billingsley, star of the 1983 original, is working on a deal to reprise the role as an adult in “A Christmas Story Christmas” for HBO Max.

Billingsley, who has become an accomplished producer and director with credits including “Iron Man” and “Couples Retreat,” also would produce.

The story picks up in the 1970s, when Ralphie decides to re-create his childhood Christmas for his own kids. That brings him back to the old family home in Hohman, Indiana (the fictional town based on Hammond, Indiana, where “A Christmas Story” creator and narrator Jean Shepherd grew up).

Directing will be Clay Katis, who developed his yuletide chops as the director of Netflix’s well-received Santa film “The Christmas Chronicles.”

“A Christmas Story Christmas” would mark Billingsley’s first time back as Ralphie, but others took on the role in a pair of little-seen sequels. Future “Succession” star Keiran Culkin stepped in for 1994’s “My Summer Story” (aka “It Runs in the Family”), and Braeden Lemasters played Ralphie as a teen in “A Christmas Story 2” (2012).