While rumored for years, Josh Gad's (Frozen, The Wedding Ringer) development of a sequel to Mel Brooks' 1987 Star Wars spoof, Spaceballs, was officially confirmed to be in development at Amazon MGM Studios in June 2024.
According to the latest update from Gad, it seems as if the project is inching closer to fruition.
"Without MGM taking me into their Culver prison cells, I can tell you that the draft is done," said Gad.
He continued, "Everybody who’s read it has been blown away. The process of working on this with and alongside Mel Brooks has been one of the highlights of my career."
"It’s a dream to be able to finally make the reality prophesied by Yogurt in the first movie happen. I can’t say more than that. I can’t tell you anything beyond [the] process at this point, but I can tell you every hour of every day right now is spent making this project closer and closer to reality—and I think we’re nearing the end zone here."
For most Star Wars fans, Spaceballs is viewed as a humorous spoof of their favorite sci-fi franchise. The parody is valued for its smart quips, astute allusions, and generally absurd tone.
Furthermore, Spaceballs is regarded as one of the greatest comedy works ever created by the renowned Mel Brooks. Fans of Star Wars admire his ability to honor the original source material while producing a funny parody.
First released on June 24, 1987, the film was a box office flop but has since gone on to garner a devoted following in the decades that followed.
Currently working on the script alongside Gad, is the writing duo of Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez (Pokémon Detective Pikachu, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem).
Josh Greenbaum (Too Funny to Fail, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) is currently attached to direct the pic. Mel Brooks is also attached to the project as an executive producer.
Gad is the long actor confirmed to star in the film, as it is currently unknown whether any of the original lead actors- Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga, will reprise their roles.
Space Balls (1987) Synopsis: 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 orders the evil Dark Helmet to kidnap Princess Vespa 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 and his half-man, half-dog partner, Barf.