These days, no IP is too good not to capitalize on, not even “Spaceballs.” Variety reports that Amazon MGM Studios has a sequel of the 1987 sci-fi spoof in development with Josh Gad set to star. Gad also leads producers on the project along with the original director, Mel Brooks. And if Brooks is involved, this idea isn’t all bad, right? After all, there are plenty of recent sci-fi tropes for a follow-up to tackle.
What’s unclear, however, is if the “Spaceball” sequel will be a direct follow-up to the original or something adjacent to it. There’s plenty of fodder for Gad and Brooks from the recent “Star Wars” project to tackle, but spoofs being spoofs, there’s also the MCU, the “Dune” films, and the latest Monsterverse cycle. And going back further, a new “Spaceballs” movie could easily lampoon the likes of “Interstellar,” “The Martian,” “Ad Astra,” and even “Arrival.” The original was primarily a “Star Wars” takedown, but many other popular films got taken down in the 1987 film. Let’s hope writers Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Gad cook up some good ideas.
Josh Greenbaum will direct the upcoming film, with Kevin Salter also on board as an executive producer. As for Sami and Hernandez, they’ve worked together on stuff like “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu,” “Addams Family 2,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” Up next for the duo? The Disney+/Lucasfilm special “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy.”
Another question about a new “Spaceballs” movie: will any of the original cast show up? Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga could, as may Brooks, but the late John Candy sadly won’t be part of this one. And Rick Moranis could be a wildcard to return, too. The actor, who left his Hollywood career behind to be a single dad for his kids, is set to return to the silver screen in “Shrunk.” Could he be up for a Lord Dark Helmet reprise as well?
With this sequel, Gad adds another buzzy upcoming project next to the Chris Farley biopic he helms for New Line, which stars Paul Walter Hauser. As for Brooks, this is yet another old property of his that he gives a recent update to. He wrote and produced “History Of The World, Part II,” a sequel to his 1981 film, last year. The 97-year-old was also honored with a Career Achievement Award at the 84th annual Peabody Awards earlier this month, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Stay tuned for an official cast list for the “Spaceballs” sequel, which should hit theaters sometime next year.