Mel Brooks is returning to make Spaceballs 2, and there are already a ton of exciting updates about the long-awaited sequel to Spaceballs. The original Spaceballs is writer/director Mel Brooks’ parody of Star Wars. Spaceballs‘ characters include Bill Pullman as the Han Solo-esque Lone Starr, John Candy as his sidekick Barf, and Rick Moranis as the villainous Dark Helmet. While the film was only a moderate success upon release, it soon became a cult hit on home video thanks to its pitch-perfect send-up of the original Star Wars trilogy, picking apart its commercialism and silly sci-fi tropes.

Spaceballs even teased a sequel during the film, dubbed Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money. However, little news ever materialized about a formal follow-up. On the heels of Mel Brooks returning for the TV series History of the World, Part Two, Spaceballs 2 has been formally confirmed for a 2027 release. With the Star Wars franchise continuing to balloon and prove Brooks’ sharp barbs prescient, it’s exciting to see the sci-fi parody return for a new chapter.

Spaceballs 2 Latest News

Josh Gad Helped Mel Brooks Poke Fun At Modern Star Wars

Spaceballs 2 has been confirmed for a 2027 release, with some of the original stars returning for the new film. One of the chief creatives on the film is Josh Gad, who is co-writing Spaceballs 2. In an interview with Kelly Rippa on her podcast Let’s Talk Off Camera, Gad revealed just how involved Mel Brooks is in the development of the sequel story, and that it will spoof more recent Star Wars lore. During the conversation, Gad slyly revealed that it will likely poke fun at the Disney era of the science fiction franchise.

Mel is incredibly involved. I’ll share a funny story that I haven’t yet shared. When we were pitching him the original conceit for what we wanted to do with the film, at the beginning he goes, “I’m just telling you now, I want you to really go into detail because I don’t know a lot about the new ‘Star Wars’ films.” And I said, “Okay.”

It’s literally like, I am a combat vet just going to war in front of one person. I’m sweating, I am getting into every line and every beat and every comedic set piece, every reveal. I’m painting all of it, and I’m speaking to how this speaks to a certain “Star Wars” moment.

Spaceballs 2 Is Confirmed

Mel Brooks Is Teaming Up With Amazon MGM

Amazon MGM announced in June 2024 that they had greenlit the development of Spaceballs 2, with a newly released teaser confirming the release window. Although Mel Brooks won’t be directing the long-awaited sci-fi parody sequel, the comedy icon has been brought on as a producer. Instead, the directing duties have gone to Josh Greenbaum, who helmed 2023’s raunchy comedy Strays. Mel Brooks features prominently in the official announcement video, confirming his involvement in the project.

It’s important to note that Brooks isn’t writing the movie. The screenplay is instead being penned by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Josh Gad. Samit is noted for his family-friendly comedy scripts, and he famously wrote Pokémon Detective Pikachu, The Addams Family 2, and 2023’s smash-hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Little is known about the movie in terms of plot and the role that Gad will be playing hasn’t been revealed yet. Gad revealed in November 2024 that the script was completed.

Spaceballs 2 Cast

Josh Gad Will Star In The Parody Sequel

Almost nothing is known about the story of Spaceballs 2, but the cast is quickly coming together. Josh Gad and Mel Brooks were already set for the project. while Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, and Rick Moranis have been formally confirmed to be returning as well. Keke Palmer is also confirmed to be in the film, while Lewis Pullman is in talks to join the cast. It’s unclear if any of the movie’s other stars will return — although there are some, like John Candy and Joan Rivers, who have pᴀssed away since the first movie debuted.

Mel Brooks’ involvement means he’ll likely be reprising his two roles from the original film, the merchandise-obsessed Yoda parody Yogurt (which has been confirmed) and the villainous Spaceballs leader, President Skroob. With Star Wars becoming even more commercialized since the first Spaceballs movie, Yogurt has to return to skewer the franchise once again. There is also plenty of new Star Wars material to poke fun at, which could set the stage for all sorts of cameo appearances by former Star Wars cast members.

Spaceballs 2 Story Details

A New Star Wars Parody Could Mean A Lot Of Things

Amazon MGM hasn’t released any story details about their upcoming sequel to Spaceballs. However, it isn’t hard to imagine where the sci-fi parody could go, given the tone and focus of the original film. Since the original debuted in 1987, there have been a slew of Star Wars movies, some of which were far from perfect. Many of the aspects of the later franchise entries have been criticized by fans and critics alike, which could easily become joke fodder for the Spaceballs sequel.

Spaceballs 2 will almost certainly make fun of Disney’s acquisition of Star Wars. Characters like Yogurt will likely have a lot more to do, especially with characters like Baby Yoda playing into the original film’s commentary about merchandising. The confirmed casting also suggests the sequel will revisit Lone Star, likely in a similar role to Han Solo in The Force Awakens. Fans should keep an eye out for more news about Spaceballs 2, especially as we approach the currently unknown release date in 2027.

VIA: Let’s Talk Off Camera