Mel Brooks Wants To Make Spaceballs 2, Here’s What We Know So Far
Mel Brooks is a comedy genius. He hasn’t directed a movie since 1995, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, but that doesn’t matter, he’s still the guy responsible for movies like Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and High Anxiety, and has thus earned a lifetime pass. Hot on the heels of the news that his Blazing Saddles may get an animated remake—with dogs and cats and other animals no less—he’s been talking about making a sequel to maybe his greatest movie: Spaceballs.
That’s right, Spaceballs 2 could finally happen, which is something we’ve been waiting almost 30 years for. There have been rumors about this floating around since damn near the moment the credits rolled on Brooks’ spot on spoof of George Lucas’ Star Wars trilogy, but none of those have ever gained any real traction, much less actually materialized. Appearing on Adam Corolla’s Take a Knee podcast, Brooks confirmed that a Spaceballs sequel “is actually going to happen.” The Schwartz is strong with this one.
The 88-year-old comedy icon went on to say that he “really wants to do it,” and he plans to bring back much of the original cast. Obviously, two key players won’t be able to as both John Candy and Joan Rivers have since passed, but Brooks intends to ask Rick Moranis to appear. If anything can coax the actor out of retirement, you have to imagine resurrecting his Dark Helmet might just do the trick. And Bill Pullman is still out there kicking and could probably be convinced to take his Lone Star character out for another spin, even if it is without Barf and Dot Matrix.
This seems like as good a time as any to get the ball rolling on Spaceballs 2. The release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is nigh, and that whole universe is in the midst of expanding in a way it never has before, so there will be plenty to lampoon. In fact, Brooks also revealed that he intends to start filming after the December 18 release of The Force Awakens.
What remains to be seen, however, is how much Brooks will actually be involved. Like I said, he’s 88, so odds are he’ll have to recruit a new crop of comedic talents to write and direct the picture. But there is certainly no shortage of folks who grew up watching, laughing at, and endlessly quoting Spaceballs. Who among us hasn’t spent more time than we’re entirely proud of pretending to compare the size of our Schwartzs or yelling about being surrounded by assholes?
There was a short-lived Spaceballs: The Animated Series that ran for 12 episodes from 2008 to 2009. Brooks reprised his role as President Skroob, Rivers once again voiced Dot, and Daphne Zuniga even showed up as Princess Vespa, though new additions handled the other key roles.
What do you think, are you game for Spaceballs 2? We’ll have to wait and see if it’s Spaceballs: The Search for More Money, as the original indicates, but we’re good either way.
