A Spaceballs Sequel is in the Works
A follow-up film to 1987’s Mel Brooks Star Wars-inspired comedy, Spaceballs, is now in development with Josh Greenbaum set to direct.
Mel Brooks and Josh Gad will be producing an upcoming sequel to the fun science fiction comedy from the late 1980’s, Spaceballs. Amazon MGM Studios will be making this project with Josh Greenbaum slated to be working behind the camera. Greenbaum previously directed the 2021 comic gem, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and the less successful but still adequate talking dog comedy movie from last year, Strays.
“May the Schwartz be With You.” So went the tagline for the Brooks comedy, Spaceballs, when it was released in the 80’s. Gad and Brooks will be standing behind a sequel but the first film, itself, wasn’t such a big hit which leaves one to wonder if the re-emergence of the Star Wars franchise has something to do with rejuvenating MGM’s Spaceballs property. Spaceballs may have been ahead of its time. The sarcastic humor wasn’t always on target for audiences who saw the film opening weekend in theaters. It received a lukewarm “B-” CinemaScore grade, the same mark that Brooks’s 1991 bomb, Life Stinks, earned.
Today’s audiences are more open to some types of humor that were off limits in the 1980’s which could help Spaceballs 2 bring crowds in. Consequently, the humor from the 1980’s that was prevalent in the movie has sort of gone out of style with the decade itself. That may not be a problem, though considering who’s directing the sequel.
In fact, Greenbaum typically takes big risks with the comedies he chooses to direct and the director doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter to drive his humor home. Several key concerns have arisen though. The passing of Joan Rivers, who played a robot like C-3PO in Spaceballs, leaves one to wonder where the film will stand with that character from the original picture. Will it be recast? The other cast members of Spaceballs also pose problems: Rick Moranis (who played a variation on Darth Vader) retired, John Candy (who took on a Chewbacca-type role in Spaceballs) died almost three decades ago and the other stars (Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga) rarely appear in movies anymore.
But, that issue aside, Greenbaum may just bring some new life to the Spaceballs movie series. Mel Brooks is turning 98 this month which makes the sequel project one that should spring into action sooner rather than later so the funny director can actually get to see it. If any one comedy film director is comparable to Brooks, it’s Greenbaum who has a very distinct sense of humor showcased in his movies.
Brooks’s humorous 1987 film was a moderate hit with audiences and earned $38 million which was OK back then for a summer comedy. Amazon MGM could put this sequel in theaters but a streaming showing is more likely given the time that has passed since the original movie which hasn’t, exactly, aged like fine wine but it still a passable way for a Star Wars fan to get some major laughs. More news on this upcoming sequel project will be revealed as it is made available.
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