‘Spaceballs’ Sequel from Mel Brooks and Starring Josh Gad in the Works at Amazon MGM
Brian Welk
“Listen, we’re not just doing this for money. We’re doing it for a shitload of money!” – Lone Starr
“Spaceballs” the t-shirt! “Spaceballs” the coloring book! “Spaceballs” the….sequel?
Yup. A source told IndieWire that Amazon MGM Studios is currently in early development on a sequel to “Spaceballs.” Mel Brooks is returning to produce the feature, a direct follow-up to his 1987 “Star Wars” spoof. Josh Gad is also on board to star in and also produce what we’ll call “Spaceballs 2.”
Amazon declined to comment.
Josh Greenbaum, who directed “Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and this year’s documentary “Will & Harper,” is attached to direct the sequel. He’s working from a script by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Josh Gad. Samit and Hernandez are known for working on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” “Pokemon Detective Pikachu,” and the upcoming “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.”
Kevin Salter will executive produce.
“Spaceballs” from 1987 starred Brooks, Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet, the late John Candy as the Chewbacca parody Barf, and Bill Pullman as the hero Lone Starr. In classic Brooks fashion the film mercilessly ripped off “Star Wars” and featured everything from heroes fighting with pseudo lightsabers extending from rings, characters using the “Schwartz” to save the day, and even Brooks playing a Yoda parody, Yogurt, who shamelessly plugged fourth-wall-breaking “Spaceballs” merchandise.
The film made $38 million worldwide but has become part of the canon of staples for Brooks acolytes. Brooks recently wrote the Hulu series “History of the World: Part II,” a sequel to his 1981 sketch film. That series also featured Gad in one episode playing Shakespeare.
Gad is currently prepping to make his feature directorial debut on a biopic about Chris Farley that will star Paul Walter Hauser. He’ll also return for a third “Frozen” film as Olaf.
The InSneider first reported the news.
