It’s been nearly four decades since Spaceballs first made audiences laugh with its spin on Star Wars and sci-fi films. Now, in a move no one quite saw coming, and yet everyone seems to welcome, Spaceballs 2 is officially happening. And yes, Mel Brooks is back.
At 98 years old, Mel Brooks isn’t just directing. He is also reprising his beloved role as Yogurt, the gold-faced, wise, and funny character who poked fun at Yoda. For fans of the original film, this is more than just another sequel. It’s the return of a comedy legend.
What we know about ‘Spaceballs 2’
I told you we’d be back pic.twitter.com/RnoklPqBX6
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) June 12, 2025
The announcement came from Amazon, MGM Studios, and Brooks himself on June 12, 2025. A Star Wars-style crawl opened the reveal video, filled with jokes about today’s endless movie franchises, from Jurassic Park and Dune to Avatar and the MCU. Then came the twist: “But in 38 years there has only ever been one Spaceballs. Until now…”
Then, Mel Brooks appears on screen: “After 40 years, we asked what do the fans want? But instead, we’re making this movie.” He ends with his classic sign-off: “May the Schwartz be with you.” Josh Gad went on to say. “I wondered why anyone would do a dramatic remake of the Mel Brooks classic,” he joked online.
Set for a 2027 release, Spaceballs 2 is being called a “Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film.” If that sounds silly, that’s the point. Mel Brooks directed, wrote, and starred in the original 1987 film, where he played both Yogurt and President Skroob. The original also featured Bill Pullman as Lone Star, John Candy as Barf, Rick Moranis as the unforgettable Dark Helmet, and Joan Rivers as the voice of Dot Matrix.
Which original cast members are returning?
So far, it’s unclear which of the original cast members will return, especially as several of them have passed away. But fans are hopeful that Rick Moranis, who’s been slowly stepping back into acting, will return as Dark Helmet. Josh Greenbaum will direct the sequel. Before this project, he had worked on Will & Harper and other comedy-focused projects.
Alongside Gad, the screenplay is being written by Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, both known for their skills in writing humor. The production team hopes to start filming before the end of 2025, depending on casting and budget. Gad mentioned on SiriusXM that they’re deep “in the weeds” but fully committed to making a sequel that honors the spirit of the original.
Spaceballs isn’t just a parody. It’s a snapshot of ‘80s humor, packed with jokes that still land today. When it came out in 1987, it wasn’t a massive box office hit, but over time, it became a cult classic. Fans memorized lines, quoted Dark Helmet’s rants, and laughed at the now-iconic “Merchandising!” moment. Today, with Hollywood releasing reboots and spinoffs by the dozen, Spaceballs feels ahead of its time.
Even the announcement video seemed to poke fun at the modern era’s obsession with sequels. The crawl mocked Hollywood’s habit of creating spinoffs of spinoffs: “A movie spinoff of a TV spinoff, which is both a prequel and a sequel,” it read. For Mel Brooks, returning now is less about fan demand and more about having fun with the chaos of modern pop culture. And for Gad, it’s a personal dream. Mel Brooks might be nearing 100, but his creative energy clearly hasn’t slowed down. May the Schwartz, indeed, be with us all.