Rick Moranis Ends Retirement After Almost 3 Decades as ‘Spaceballs 2’ Heads Into Production
It has been almost 30 years since Rick Moranis last graced the silver screen, an absence that has left fans eager for his return. Now, the beloved 1980s A-lister will be back in front of audiences, reprising his iconic role as the villainous Dark Helmet in the long-awaited sequel to Mel Brooks‘ Spaceballs.
Now that production is underway, Amazon MGM has confirmed the full cast and shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the stars, writers, and director at a table read. Spaceballs 2 is targeting a 2027 release date.
In the statement released by the studio, Amazon MGM wrote: “Several key cast members from the original 1987 cult classic Spaceballs will be returning for the sequel. Most notably, Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) will reprise his role, marking a rare and highly anticipated return to the big screen.”
MGM/ Courtesy: Everett Collection
Though the film’s full title and plot description haven’t been confirmed, Amazon MGM flippantly stated: “The title is rumored to be the name of the movie, and plot details are being described as information about what happens in the story.”
It has been hinted for a while that Moranis would return for the long-awaited sequel. During an interview with Screenrant for the film Adulthood, Spaceballs 2 co-writer and actor Josh Gad spoke in careful hypotheticals about the film and the possible (still unconfirmed) return of Rick Moranis.
“Well, I am not going to comment on whether or not Rick Moranis is returning, but hypothetically, if he were to return, I would say it’s because Rick would have felt like this was a project worthy of his return.”
MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Gad also said that working on the project is “surreal” given the length of time between the original film and the sequel: “It’s surreal because I grew up with Spaceballs and when the movie was prophesized in the first film, when Yogurt says, ‘God willing, we’ll all meet again in Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money,’ I, like everyone else, was just anticipating that that would happen sooner than 40 years later.”
Moranis was a staple of 1980s cinema, starring in Ghostbusters and its sequel, Little Shop of Horrors, the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise, Parenthood, and Streets of Fire. By the 2000s, he shifted to animation before retiring to focus on raising his children after the passing of his wife, costume designer Ann Belsky.
MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
“I am so grateful it took that long because it’s the greatest gift on Earth to be able to not only be on the precipice of shooting this movie,” said Gad. “But to be able to do it while Mel is still with us. So I’m thrilled. I’m beyond excited, and that’s about all I can say for now.”
Spaceballs 2 reunites original cast members Mel Brooks as Yogurt and President Skroob, Bill Pullman as Lone Starr, and Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, as well as new additions Lewis Pullman as Starburst and Keke Palmer as Destiny. Set for release in theaters in 2027, Spaceballs 2 is directed by Josh Greenbaum from a script written by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Gad.
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