We've been hearing whispers of a potential Spaceballs sequel for many years, and it's now been confirmed that a follow-up to Mel Brooks' '80s Star Wars parody is officially in the works.
The movie is in development at Amazon MGM Studios, with Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Wolf Like Me) set to star and produce alongside Brooks. Josh Greenbaum will direct the film from a screenplay by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Gad.
Plot details are still under wraps, but the original movie was a full-on farce, following the general plot of Star Wars: A New Hope while also spoofing other space-set or sci-fi properties such as Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes and Alien.
Spaceballs starred Bill Pullman as Lone Star, the late John Candy as Barf, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Rick Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet, and Brooks in a dual role as President Skroob and Yogurt. We have no idea if any of these actors will reprise their respective roles or who Gad is set to play, but we should find out more fair;y soon, as production is expected to commence later this year.
Moranis revealed that he pitched a sequel to Brooks back in 2013 with the proposed title Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II. Nothing ever came of it, but in 2015, Brooks said that he would be interested in releasing a new movie after the next Star Wars film and hoped that Moranis would reprise his role. The legendary filmmaker said he'd like this version of the movie to be called Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money.
Spaceballs received mixed reviews upon release (it sits at 52% on Rotten Tomatoes), but it has developed a loyal following over the years
Gad confirmed the news via an Instagram post shortly after the story broke.
"In a distant galaxy, planet Spaceball has depleted its air supply, leaving its citizens reliant on a product called "Perri-Air." In desperation, Spaceball's leader President Skroob (Mel Brooks) orders the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to kidnap Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) of oxygen-rich Druidia and hold her hostage in exchange for air. But help arrives for the Princess in the form of renegade space pilot Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his half-man, half-dog partner, Barf (John Candy)."
Are you looking forward to a new Spaceballs movie?