According to sources cited by Deadline, Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis will return as Lone Starr and Dark Helmet in the upcoming Spaceballs film from Amazon MGM Studios, with Keke Palmer (One of Them Days) also joining the ensemble.
Details surrounding Palmer’s character and the film’s storyline remain tightly under wraps. One of the more attention-grabbing announcements is the return of Rick Moranis, a longtime fan favorite who has kept a low profile in recent decades. Mel Brooks, who directed and starred in the original Spaceballs, will also return to the screen as Yogurt. Scheduled to hit theaters in 2027, the sequel has reportedly been described by insiders—many of whom haven’t even read the script—as “a Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film.”
Josh Greenbaum, known for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, is on board to direct. The screenplay is written by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Josh Gad. Gad will also appear in the film and serve as a producer, alongside Brian Grazer and Jeb Brody of Imagine Entertainment, as well as Brooks and Greenbaum. Executive producers include Kevin Salter, Adam Merims, Samit, and Hernandez.
Originally released by MGM in 1987, Spaceballs is a cult classic that parodied major science fiction hits like Star Wars and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film follows the bumbling villains Dark Helmet (Moranis) and President Skroob (Brooks), who attempt to steal air from the peaceful planet Druidia. Standing in their way are Lone Starr (Bill Pullman), his half-man, half-dog sidekick Barf (John Candy), and Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga). The film also featured Joan Rivers and Dick Van Patten and grossed just over $38 million globally. Though modest in its original release, the movie has since become a beloved genre spoof.
Bill Pullman, recognized for roles in films like Independence Day and Lost Highway, has more recently appeared in the TV drama The Sinner and films such as The High Note and Dark Waters. He’s also lined up to appear in upcoming projects including Netflix’s The Boroughs from the Duffer Brothers, and A24’s Famous with Zac Efron.
Rick Moranis, a beloved figure from the ’80s and ’90s, made his mark with performances in Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, and the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids series, in addition to his work on the Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV. He stepped back from acting in the late ’90s to focus on raising his children after the death of his wife, costume designer Ann Belsky. He briefly returned to the spotlight in 2020 for a Mint Mobile commercial with Ryan Reynolds.
Palmer is fresh off the success of One of Them Days, a buddy comedy from TriStar where she stars alongside SZA. A sequel is currently in development. She’ll next appear in Amazon’s heist comedy The Pickup with Eddie Murphy (releasing August 6), Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune from Lionsgate (October 17), and Boots Riley’s upcoming film I Love Boosters, produced by Neon.
Source: Deadline