In a galaxy not so far away—specifically, the bustling sets of Sydney, Australia—fans of Mel Brooks’ irreverent 1987 cult classic Spaceballs can finally exhale. Principal photography on the long-awaited sequel, Spaceballs 2, has officially wrapped, marking the end of a whirlwind production that zipped by faster than the Winnebago on hyperdrive. The announcement came straight from co-writer, producer, and star Josh Gad, who couldn’t contain his excitement (or his Brooksian puns) in a heartfelt social media post.
“It really was Ludicrous speed, but that is an official picture wrap on #Spaceballs2,” Gad wrote on Facebook, sharing a behind-the-scenes photo that captured the chaotic joy of the set. For those unfamiliar with the original film’s lexicon, “ludicrous speed” is the over-the-top warp drive setting that famously caused the spaceship’s hood ornament—a bumper sticker reading “I ♥ Uranus”—to peel off. It’s a fitting metaphor for a shoot that kicked off in mid-September and wrapped just two-and-a-half months later, defying the typical Hollywood timeline of delays and reshoots.
Gad’s post was more than a simple status update; it was a love letter to the project that began three years ago with a bold phone call. “I called Mel Brooks with an idea for a film forty years in the making. I could not believe he said yes,” Gad reflected. At 99 years young, Brooks—the legendary comedian behind The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and the original Spaceballs—isn’t just lending his name. He’s producing and reprising his dual roles as the wise, Schwartz-wielding Yogurt and the megalomaniacal President Skroob. Brooks’ involvement alone elevates Spaceballs 2 from sequel to event film, a torch-passing moment in comedy history.
The original Spaceballs was a satirical supernova, skewering Star Wars with lines like “I am your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate” and props like the Colander (a helmet that’s “almost exactly like a Star Trek helmet”). It grossed over $38 million on a $22.7 million budget and cemented its status as a quotable gem for generations of sci-fi nerds. But the sequel? It’s poised to roast four decades of space opera excess, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s multiverse madness to The Mandalorian‘s baby Yoda fever. Plot details remain under wraps—described cheekily as “a non-prequel, non-reboot sequel part two, but with reboot elements, franchise expansion film”—but expect plenty of fresh fodder for parody.
Directing duties fall to Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), whom Gad hailed as “one of the greatest directors I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.” The screenplay comes from Gad, alongside Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, a trio credited with infusing the script with the same anarchic energy that made the first film a timeless hoot. Gad didn’t hold back in thanking the unsung heroes: “This entire crew was one for the ages, and every single department and department head transcended our greatest expectations.” Amazon MGM Studios, the project’s backers, were also singled out for their faith in reviving a 38-year-old franchise.
Of course, no Spaceballs story would be complete without its ensemble of misfits. Returning from the original are Bill Pullman as the roguish Lone Starr, Daphne Zuniga as the feisty Princess Vespa, George Wyner as the blustering Colonel Sandurz, and—drumroll—Rick Moranis as the diminutive Dark Helmet. Moranis, who stepped away from acting in 1997 to focus on family following the death of his wife, marked his grand return with this role. His comeback has been a fan-favorite subplot, with Gad calling him “the legend himself… the long missed RICK MORANIS!!!” Newcomers add generational spice: Keke Palmer (Nope), Anthony Carrigan (The Batman), and Lewis Pullman (son of Bill, playing the aptly named Starburst, offspring of Lone Starr and Vespa). It’s a lineup that promises both nostalgic callbacks and boundary-pushing gags.
The wrap wasn’t just a Gad affair. Zuniga chimed in on Instagram with a group photo from the wrap party, featuring herself, Pullman, Greenbaum, Gad, and Moranis. “You’re never too old to play!” she captioned it, adding, “I really hope the world loves this movie as much as we loved making it!!!!”
With filming in the rearview, Spaceballs 2 now hurtles toward post-production, where visual effects wizards will no doubt craft more interdimensional absurdity. Amazon MGM has penciled in a 2027 debut, giving the team ample time to polish the Schwartz. In an era where reboots often feel like recycled merch (looking at you, Spaceballs: The Flamethrower), this sequel arrives as a breath of fresh air—pun intended, given the original’s air-freshener plot device.
As Gad signed off his post: “See you in Space!” For Brooks completists, Moranis loyalists, and anyone who’s ever chuckled at a “merchandise” gag, the wait is almost over. May the Schwartz be with you—because in the words of Yogurt himself, “At what we’re paying you, who needs the Schwartz?”
