Rick Moranis Makes Surprise Hall H Return for Spaceballs: The New One
Mel Brooks, Josh Gad and the cast celebrated the beloved sci-fi comedy while giving Comic-Con fans an exclusive first look at the sequel.
SAN DIEGO – Hall H was filled with laughs Friday as Amazon MGM Studios gave fans their first look at Spaceballs: The New One during San Diego Comic-Con.
Before the cast even took the stage, fans were treated to a video message from comedy legend Mel Brooks, setting the tone for a panel that celebrated the original 1987 cult classic while looking ahead to its long-awaited sequel.
Moderator Kevin Smith welcomed director Josh Greenbaum, screenwriters Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, along with stars Daphne Zuniga, Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman and Josh Gad.
But the biggest surprise of the panel came before the conversation even got underway.
As Spaceballs Troopers “combed” the audience for fans dressed as Dark Helmet, they “discovered” Rick Moranis sitting among the crowd in full costume. The reveal brought Hall H to its feet as fans gave Moranis a standing ovation, marking his return as Dark Helmet for the first time in nearly four decades.
The panel also revealed how the long-awaited sequel finally became a reality. Josh Gad recalled working with Rick Moranis on a planned Honey, I Shrunk the Kids sequel when he introduced the actor’s films to his daughter. After watching the original Spaceballs, she asked when they could watch part two. Gad told her there wasn’t one, despite the promise at the end of the film.
“The weird little alien guy said there’s going to be a part two,” she told him.
Gad laughed, replying, “Oh, sweetie, that’s called a joke.” When she asked why there had never been a sequel, he realized she had a point. That night, he went to bed thinking about what a sequel could be and eventually picked up the phone to call Mel Brooks.
“I don’t know what gave me the balls to do this, but I called up Mel Brooks,” Gad said. He spent 40 minutes passionately pitching his vision while Brooks listened quietly. When he finally finished, Brooks responded, “Josh, it sounds like you really have a finger on the pulse. I don’t know half of what you’re talking about, but I really like it.”
So, in a way, we have Olaf to thank for finally getting a Spaceballs sequel.
Daphne Zuniga said she wasn’t surprised it took this long for a sequel to happen. She recalled auditioning for the role of Princess Vespa and said Mel Brooks told her, “You’re my princess.” Even so, it took more than a month before she officially landed the role of Princess Vespa.
Now returning as Queen Vespa, Zuniga joked that she’s enjoying ruling over her own “queen-dom.”
Rick Moranis also reflected on returning to Dark Helmet after nearly four decades.
“I had to pinch myself because I would look at Daphne, Bill and George Wyner, ‘Colonel Sanders,’ and then there were all these young people. Then I realized I was their age 39 years ago when we made this, and here we are now. My kids are the age of this cast. I felt like I was in a time warp,” Moranis said.
“But I was in that outfit wearing the helmet, and it felt very strange, to be honest. But it started to feel really good, and I started to love it. Who knows, it might be the beginning of many.”
Newcomer Keke Palmer said she couldn’t stop laughing when she first read the script, making it an easy decision to sign on.
“That was the thing. It’s doing stuff that brings you joy, and I think we can all use a little more joy and laughter. So the way it made me feel, I immediately knew I had to do it,” Palmer said.
When asked about her character Destiny, Palmer wasn’t sharing any details.
Lewis Pullman also reflected on following in the footsteps of his father, Bill Pullman, who originated the role of Lone Starr. He admitted he initially hesitated about taking on the legacy but changed his mind after reading the script.
“Me and Pop had... he didn’t want to make the decision, and I didn’t want to step into his shoes. But once I read it, I was like, this is one of the funniest scripts I’ve ever read,” Pullman said. “I was laughing out loud, and I rarely laugh out loud when reading scripts. I then looked at the team, and I was like, I would be a fool. I would be weird if I didn’t do it.”
Although Bill Pullman wasn’t able to attend the panel, he still made an appearance through a special video message for the Hall H audience.
Josh Gad also made it clear that he isn’t stepping into John Candy’s beloved role as Barf. Instead, he’ll play another Mawg, though he wouldn’t reveal any additional details about the character.
“I am not stepping into the role of Barf,” Gad said. “Barf can only be played by one person.”
Gad then took a moment to honor the late John Candy, calling him the heart and soul of the original Spaceballs. The tribute was one of the panel’s more heartfelt moments, reminding fans why the first film continues to resonate nearly 40 years later.
Before the panel wrapped, Hall H fans were treated to an exclusive first look at the trailer for Spaceballs: The New One, giving attendees their first glimpse of the long-awaited sequel before it arrives in theaters next year.
Between Mel Brooks’ opening message, Rick Moranis’ surprise return, behind-the-scenes stories from the cast and the exclusive trailer debut, Hall H celebrated everything fans have loved about Spaceballs for nearly four decades while proving there’s still plenty of Schwartz left.
Spaceballs: The New One arrives exclusively in theaters in April 2027.