(Left) Mel Brooks in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (Right) Josh Gad in ‘The Wedding Ringer’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
Preview:
- Josh Gad is aboard to star in, produce and co-write a ‘Spaceballs’ sequel.
- Mel Brooks, creator and star of the original, is aboard to produce.
- Josh Greenbaum is directing for Amazon/MGM.
Follow-ups to Mel Brooks movies have apparently become a thing. We’ve already seen 1981’s ‘History of the World: Part I’ spawn Hulu limited series ‘History of the World: Part II’ last year (which was driven by Nick Kroll and David Stassen, but with Brooks as producer and occasionally on screen).
While Brooks would probably crack that it’s all happening now before it’s too late, another of his comedies is seeing a return –– this time, a sequel to 1987 ‘Star Wars’ spoof ‘Spaceballs’.
Josh Gad is now developing the new movie for Amazon/MGM (since MGM released the original and Amazon has been looking for ways to use the IP it inherited since buying the company), with Brooks involved as a producer and –– assuming he wants to –– once again stepping before cameras.
What was the story of ‘Spaceballs’?
(L to R) John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga and Bill Pullman in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
The original ‘Spaceballs’, directed by Brooks from a script he wrote with Thomas Meehan and Ronny Graham, starred Bill Pullman as Lone Starr, a scruffy hero in the Han Solo mold who has to stop the nefarious President Skroob (Brooks) from stealing the atmosphere of the peaceful planet Druidia.
Along the way, he comes to the aid of Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) and her sarcastic robot maid Dot Matrix (voiced by Joan Rivers). John Candy plays Starr’s faithful half-man/half-dog sidekick Barf and Rick Moranis is superb Vader spoof Dark Helmet. Oh, and Brooks also plays diminutive Yoda-alike wisdom-spewer Yogurt, who also has a nice line in merchandising.
‘Spaceballs’ doesn’t just target George Lucas’ work, however: there are also riffs on the likes of ‘Planet of the Apes’, ‘Star Trek’ and in one particularly memorable moment, ‘Alien’.
Though the movie didn’t exactly triumph at the box office (it ended up with $38.1 million worldwide) but has long since been considered a cult classic.
Plot details for the new film have yet to be revealed.
Related Article: Director Josh Greenbaum Talks ‘Strays’ Starring Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx
Who is making the new ‘Spaceballs’?
Director Josh Greenbaum with Reggie on the set of ‘Strays.’
With Gad on board to star and produce, he’s also co-written the script with Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, who worked on ‘Pokémon: Detective Pikachu’.
Josh Greenbaum, who made ‘Strays’ (for which Gad provided a voice) and ‘Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar’, is in the director’s chair. He feels like a good fit for a new ‘Spaceballs’, since he’s proved he can handle wacky comedy with some emotional undertones.
The news was originally broken by Jeff Sneider, with Gad confirming via an enthusiastic Instagram post:
When will the ‘Spaceballs’ sequel be on screens?
With development at an early stage, Amazon/MGM has yet to announce any sort of release date for the movie. We’ll have to wait see –– casting and actually shooting the movie must come first.
(L to R) Rick Moranis and George Wyner in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.