Rick Moranis made a long-awaited return to the screen as the villainous Dark Helmet at San Diego Comic-Con, joining director Josh Greenbaum and writer/producer Josh Gad to reveal new details about the upcoming sequel, "Spaceballs: The New One." The panel, held in a packed Hall H, marked a significant moment for fans of the original 1987 comedy nearly four decades after its release.
Moranis received a standing ovation upon his appearance, which was preceded by a comedic bit involving moderator Kevin Smith and costumed Spaceball soldiers. While original writer and director Mel Brooks, now 100 years old, could not attend in person, he sent a humorous video message. Brooks quipped about his age, joking about trying to buy a rare Charizard card and reminiscing about going to "work" on a Friday in his youth.
Digital Yogurt and Nostalgia
A key revelation from the panel was the fate of Mel Brooks' character, Yogurt. In the original film, Brooks portrayed Yogurt using extensive makeup. For "Spaceballs: The New One," Brooks opted to provide only the voice, with the character now rendered digitally. Director Josh Greenbaum shared anecdotes about Brooks' initial participation in motion capture sessions, where he humorously rejected the use of reference dots on his face. The decision to make Yogurt a digital character was a practical one, given Brooks' inability to undergo the extensive makeup process.
Josh Gad, who also produced the film, explained that his inspiration for reviving "Spaceballs" stemmed from a potential "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" follow-up project with Moranis. He felt the current era, saturated with nostalgia and a vast amount of Star Wars content to parody, was the opportune moment for a sequel. "Spaceballs: The New One" aims to comment on this age of nostalgia while offering fresh comedic material, building on the original's parody of the Star Wars original trilogy.
Tributes and New Characters
The panel also paid tribute to the late John Candy, a beloved actor from the original "Spaceballs." Gad expressed his desire for the new film to serve as a "love letter" to Candy, clarifying that while he is not playing Candy's character, Barf, he will portray another member of Barf's alien species, the Mawgs. The film is also set to acknowledge other deceased original cast members, including Joan Rivers, Dick Van Patten, and Dom DeLuise.
While details about new characters played by Keke Palmer and Gad remain under wraps, Lewis Pullman is confirmed to play Starburst, the son of Lone Star and Queen Vespa. The panel concluded with a montage of film footage, which included new gags like Dark Helmet declaring, "Somehow I've returned... somehow!" and a Doctor Strange-esque portal sequence. The footage also offered glimpses of Palmer's character, Destiny, sporting a look inspired by Rey from the Star Wars saga, and a gag involving Yogurt being hit by a freeze blast, leading to the cry, "Frozen Yogurt!" The montage was underscored by a choir performing the original "Spaceballs" theme song.
The panel utilized the special side screens in Hall H, a rare occurrence typically reserved for visually impactful event movies. This setup was humorously employed for a mock "Spaceballs Cinematic Universe" slate reveal, showcasing numerous titles across 11 phases, including "2 Space 2 Balls" and "Pizza the Hutt: Cheesy Does It."
Moranis expressed his positive experience returning to the role, stating, "I was in that outfit and I was in the helmet and it felt really strange and it started to feel really good and I started to love it." He hinted at the possibility of future projects, suggesting, "And who knows? Maybe it’s the beginning of many."