Rick Moranis, born Frederick Allan Moranis in Toronto, is a Canadian actor, comedian, and musician who came to fame through his work on the sketch comedy show Second City Television (SCTV) in the ’80s. He is making a long-awaited return to the big screen, stepping back into the signature black helmet of Dark Helmet for the long-anticipated sequel, Spaceballs 2. Mel Brooks shared a teaser online to announce it, using a throwback sci-fi crawl and ending with his signature line: “May the Schwartz be with you.”
It’s been almost three decades since Moranis last took on a live-action film role. At that time, fans mostly heard about him from old movie marathons or stories about why he stepped away. But now, he is ready to return to the spotlight, and not just for any project. This particular one brings him back to a role many still remember in a film that keeps the same playful energy as the first Spaceballs.
Why Rick Moranis chose to step away from the spotlight
Moranis’ decision to leave Hollywood wasn’t some dramatic farewell. After the death of his wife, Ann Belsky, a costume designer, in 1991, he chose to stay home and raise their two kids, Rachel and Mitchell. His last live-action film was Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997, and since then, he’s mostly kept a low profile. In interviews, he said he never officially retired; he just waited for something worthwhile to do.
Rick Moranis will return as Dark Helmet in ‘SPACEBALLS 2’
It’s his first acting role in a live-action film since 1996
(via @DEADLINE) pic.twitter.com/yowc16sEU0
— Lights, Camera, Barstool (@LightsCameraPod) June 12, 2025
That something worth doing finally came. According to Deadline, Spaceballs 2 will be produced by Mel Brooks and Josh Gad, with Josh Greenbaum directing. Gad, who also co-wrote the film, will appear in it alongside Moranis, Bill Pullman, and Keke Palmer. Pullman is set to return as Lone Starr, while Brooks will take on his role as Yogurt again. Everyone involved is focused on preserving the humor of the original while opening the door for something fresh.
In a post on Instagram, Gad admitted he saw Spaceballs before he saw Star Wars and thought the George Lucas films were somehow copying Mel Brooks. That kind of connection shows how much this project means to those involved. It also explains why it was enough to get Moranis back on set after all these years.
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In the new sequel, Rick Moranis returns alongside fresh faces – Keke Palmer and Josh Gad
Mel Brooks has always known how to go about it when it comes to poking fun at whatever’s popular. In the teaser, he appears wearing a sweatshirt that reads “SPACEBALLS: THE SWEATSHIRT” and jokes that when they asked fans what they wanted, they did the exact opposite. He calls the new movie what only he could: “a Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film.”
It is exactly what fans hoped for: random and full of laughs. With Amazon MGM Studios backing the project and a 2027 release date already teased, things are moving forward. And while no official statement has come from the studio, the online anticipation and insider reports have done enough to get longtime fans excited
It will be interesting to see how the sequel connects with a younger audience. With Keke Palmer on board and Josh Gad helping steer the story, it feels like something meant for both longtime fans and people who’ve never seen the original. At the core of it, though, it’s a chance for the original cast, especially Rick Moranis, to step back into the roles that made them stand out. Moranis didn’t return to chase attention. He joined because the project felt right, surrounded by people who appreciate what he brings. And this isn’t about proving anything; it’s about enjoying a role that still makes people laugh. And for an actor like him, that’s more than enough.