Mel Brooks, famed for his comedic genius, returns to the spotlight for a new ‘Spaceballs’ sequel. At 100 years old, he has made a significant request to film his scenes early. ‘We filmed ‘Spaceballs: The New One’ that Mel Brooks worked with the writers on. He’s a big influence in it. He filmed his part already before we shot,’ shared Daphne Zuniga, who is reprising her role as Princess Vespa. Brooks humorously advised the crew, ‘You better film me now because I’m 100.’
With excitement building, the upcoming sequel promises to blend familiar faces with new talent. Zuniga announced, ‘It opens April 23rd of next year.’ Fans can look forward to Rick Moranis returning as Lord Dark Helmet and Bill Pullman reprising his role. Pullman’s real son, Lewis Pullman, will feature as the prince, alongside newcomer Keke Palmer.
Originally released in 1987, ‘Spaceballs’ was co-written and produced by Brooks at the age of 60. The film humorously parodies sci-fi classics like ‘Star Wars,’ featuring Lone Starr (played by Pullman) and Barf (played by John Candy) as they attempt to rescue Princess Vespa from the villainous Dark Helmet and President Skroob (Brooks).
Brooks shared a memorable anecdote from the original film’s production. He highlighted the challenges posed by Rick Moranis’ performance, which often led to excessive laughter and ruined takes. ‘Rick Moranis cost me a lot of money,’ Brooks noted. The giant helmet entrance line, ‘I can’t breathe in this thing,’ sparked laughter on set, including from Brooks himself.
Rick Moranis, looking back, describes the reunion as a nostalgic experience. ‘I kept having to pinch myself because I would look at Daphne [Zuniga] and Bill [Pullman],’ Moranis said during a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con. Reflecting on the decades past, Moranis adds, ‘I felt like I was in a time warp, but it started to feel really good.’
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