Hollywood legend Mel Brooks — who will turn 99 later this month — is officially a go to appear in an untitled Space Balls sequel that will be released in theaters in 2027 by Amazon MGM Studios, the company announced Thursday.
Brooks will reprise the role of Yogurt in the follow-up to his 1987 cult-classic comedy spoofing Star Wars and other films of the era (think of his character as a tongue-and-check Yoda). Brooks directed and co-wrote the original film, along with playing dual roles (the other was the inept President Skrood).
This time out, Josh Greenbaum is helming the comedy from a script by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez and Josh Gad, who is also rumored to star. Amazon isn’t commenting on further casting at this time.
Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Jeb Brody are producing the Spaceballs sequel — which has been in development for several years — alongside Gad, Brooks and Greenbaum. Kevin Slater, Adam Merims, Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez will executive produce.
Aside from voice projects, the last time Brooks appeared on the big screen was when making cameo appearances in 2005’s The Producers, the movie adaptation of his hit Broadway musical, which in turn was based on his 1967 film of the same name. Brooks — the director and writer of such defining comedies as Young Frankenstein, HIgh Anxiety and Blazing Saddles — is an EGOT, among a litany of other accolades.
Details regarding the storyline of the new Spaceballs movie are being kept under tight wraps, although in appropriate comedic fashion, Amazon MGM’s press release included the following: “While the title, plot details, and rest of cast are being kept under wraps, the film has been described by those who have not yet read the script as ‘A Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two’ but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film.”
An exact release date will be announced at a later time by Amazon MGM, which is making an aggressive push into the theatrical space.
Originally released by MGM in 1987 — a decade after George Lucas’ sci-fi classic Star Wars first debuted — Spaceballs starred Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis and Daphne Zuniga, as well as a voice role for Joan Rivers as a C-3P0 parody. The film earned $38.1 million at the box office ($105 million in today’s dollars) and wasn’t exactly a hit and earned mixed critical reviews. But in subsequent years, it has become a cult hit and is considered one of Brooks’ signature films.
Gad teased work on the project in 2024 with a cryptic Instagram post that blocked out certain sections on the script’s cover page.
“Just handed in a film script that I think may be the funniest and best thing I’ve ever worked on and I am so freaking excited,” Gad captioned the post at the time. He added that working with Samit and Hernandez “has been heaven on Earth and many other planets as well. Love you boys!”
Writing partners Samit and Hernandez are known for their work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Mutant Mayhem, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, Addams Family 2 and the Disney+/Lucasfilm special Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.
Mel Brooks attends the TCM Festival in 2024.
Presley Ann/Getty Images
