The New ‘Spaceballs 2’ Cast Revealed As Rick Moranis Returns From Acting Hiatus After 20+ Years

It’s finally happening.

For more than a decade we’ve been teased by rumors while Mel Brooks casually dished out one-liners about “maybe someday.” Now after what feels like a million years, Spaceballs 2 is launching into full gear. It’s not only a real deal sequel, it’s already in production and Rick Moranis is returning to acting once and for all. You heard me right, The Schwartz has been fully awakened.

Moranis will be re-donning the giant helmet to reprise his role as Dark Helmet for the first big live-action role for Moranis in over 20 years. Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, George Wyner and Mel Brooks himself are also reprising their roles as Lone Starr, Princess Vespa, Colonel Sandurz and Yogurt/President Skroob. On the other side of the moon are a host of new faces that the writers have promised will skewer the last two decades of sci-fi blockbusters with the same glee as Brooks and company did two generations ago.

Starring alongside Moranis is Josh Gad, who is not only co-writing, but will also take on a leading role. The full ensemble also includes Keke Palmer, Anthony Carrigan and Lewis Pullman, who in the most meta move ever, will be playing Starburst, the son of Lone Starr and Princess Vespa and whose on-screen dad is none other than Lewis’ real life father, Bill. My only thought on this is that out in the real world, there are currently Spaceballs fans making plans to meet up and chant, “I am your father… for real this time.”

In addition to dropping the above table-read photo that shamelessly spoofs the Force Awakens cast photo reveal, Amazon MGM has also flexed some serious meta muscles with the very press release teasing the film’s production. In keeping with the film’s own parodic tone, Brooks & Co.’s own prose is just as much of a comedy of manners, calling the endeavor a “non-prequel non-reboot sequel part two but with reboot elements franchise expansion film.”

Timing, in Brooks’ universe, is everything. Spaceballs 2 has been pegged as a 2027 release, which not-so-coincidentally is the same year as Star Wars: A New Hope’s 50th anniversary, when Lucasfilm will be going nuclear with a galaxy-wide anniversary celebration. As Jedi and Sith duke it out on the big screen, Brooks and Co. will be having a field day mercilessly mocking every major sci-fi franchise in the last two decades. Marvel? Bring it. Dune? Please. Avatar? We’ll kill to see it.

It’s been almost 40 years since the original muddled the critics but crushed the fandoms. Now the crown jewel of comedy cult classics is getting a sequel fans have spent decades quoting into existence. Suit up, spaceballs, and be ready for some laughs.