Mel Brooks Makes a Timely Return with ‘Spaceballs’ Sequel

Mel Brooks, now 100 years old, pushed for a swift return to the set for ‘Spaceballs.’ He was adamant about filming his scenes promptly. “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 reprises her role as Princess Vespa, during the ‘Melrose Place’ 90s Con panel. Brooks insisted, ‘You better film me now because I’m 100.’ So they did.

The new sequel introduces original stars along with fresh faces. “It opens April 23rd of next year,” Zuniga disclosed. Notably, Rick Moranis returns as Lord Dark Helmet, and Bill Pullman reprises his role, alongside his actual son Lewis Pullman who plays their on-screen son, the prince. Additionally, Keke Palmer joins the cast. Zuniga emphasized the fun experienced during filming.

Originally released in 1987, ‘Spaceballs’ was co-written and produced by Brooks when he was 60. The film humorously parodies ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Star Trek,’ and ‘Alien.’ The original story follows Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his sidekick Barf (John Candy) as they attempt to save Princess Vespa from Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) and President Skroob (Mel Brooks).

In the original production, Moranis’s performance produced uncontrollable laughter, taking its toll on the filming budget. According to Brooks, “Rick Moranis cost me a lot of money. When we were filming, the whole crew kept laughing at his antics and ruining take after take!” Brooks remembered Moranis’s iconic entrance line, ‘I can’t breathe in this thing,’ which had the crew erupting in laughter repeatedly.

Moranis, stepping back into his Dark Helmet costume after almost forty years, expressed mixed emotions about returning. He shared during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, “Well, I kept having to pinch myself because I would look at Daphne [Zuniga] and Bill [Pullman] and George Wyner…And then there were all these young people. And I realized I was their age 39 years ago when we made this.” Despite the surreal feeling, he grew comfortable and enjoyed the experience.