#SWYD and Get Into This Christmas Classic Sequel! "A Christmas Story" Sequel Gets Release Date!

Listen up folks, this is HUGE news for me! I love Christmas movies but, there's ONE movie that I love more than any of the others. 1983's "A Christmas Story" reigns supreme with me over all other holiday films. Why? Every. Single. Thing. About. It. Everything. Although it's set in the 1940's, I could still relate as a young child to the woes and adventures of "Ralphie". For years my family has suffered as I've watch the marathon that runs on Christmas Eve every year. I know every line and every single gesture in the entire film.

Like most lovers of "A Christmas Story", I've been waiting semi-patiently for a sequel and now, our wishes have been granted!

Peter Billingsley reprises his iconic role as the starry-eyed protagonist from 1983's A Christmas Story in HBO Max's upcoming sequel A Christmas Story Christmas, set 33 years after the beloved original.

PEOPLE has a first look at the family film, set in 1973, which stars Billingsley, 51, as the grown-up Ralphie: a father of two and struggling writer who returns to his childhood home on Cleveland Street in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, for the holidays after the unexpected death of his own dad, known simply as The Old Man (played by the late Darren McGavin in the first film).

Speaking with PEOPLE about the movie's plot, Billingsley teases, "Ralphie's not really where he wants to be in his life but he's still a dreamer, so he still has these fantasies of what his life could be, where it could go. And then he's called home with some real responsibilities and burdens."

And Billingsley isn't the only original cast member to return for the new movie. Also among those reprising their roles from the 1983 film are Ian Petrella (who plays Ralphie's younger brother Randy Parker), Scott Schwartz (Flick), R. D. Robb (Schwartz) and Zack Ward (Scut Farkus).

New additions to the cast include Erinn Hayes as Ralphie's wife Sandy, River Drosche as his son Mark, Julianna Layne as his headstrong daughter Julie and Julie Hagerty as Ralphie's mother, Mrs. Parker. Hagerty, 67, takes over the role from Melinda Dillon, who retired from acting in 2007.

"A Christmas Story Christmas" debuts Nov. 17 on HBO Max.