Key Takeaways
- Amazon MGM Studios unveiled Spaceballs: The New One at Comic‑Con Hall H with a parody‑filled opening that mimicked the original film’s iconic spaceship take and spoofed Marvel’s MCU phase timelines.
- The presentation displayed 11 “phases” of the sequel, ranging from musicals to mystery release dates, highlighting the studio’s playful approach.
- Josh Gad, who co‑writes, produces and stars, joked about a potential “weird Blade” crossover and revealed he will play a new “mog” (mawg) rather than reprising Barf, a role forever tied to John Candy.
- Rick Moranis, returning as Dark Helmet, was initially missing but was found in the crowd disguised as a fan wearing the character’s helmet, earning a standing ovation and Gad’s praise as one of his comedy “Mount Rushmore” figures alongside Candy.
- Mel Brooks, though absent in person, sent a humorous video message hunting a rare Charizard card and confirmed he will reprise his role as the mystical Yogurt.
- Bill Pullman appeared via video, while his son Lewis Pullman—who plays his on‑screen son Starburst—shared anecdotes about the original film’s hat‑knocking scene and called his father’s contribution “unfillable.”
- The panel addressed how Brooks’ historically politically incorrect humor will navigate today’s climate, emphasizing that the film will rely on pure laughs and leave room for both the smartest and dumbest jokes.
- A longer clip than shown at CinemaCon was screened, featuring Brooks as Yogurt, Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman, Daphne Zuniga as Queen Vespa, and a surreal Avatar Na’vi using a men’s‑room urinal.
- Spaceballs: The New One is slated for theatrical release on April 23, 2027; no trailer was released during the panel.
Amazon MGM Studios’ Hall H presentation for Spaceballs: The New One kicked off Comic‑Con with a bold, self‑aware nod to the very opening gag that made the 1987 classic a cult favorite. Mimicking the original’s long, dramatic spaceship take, the studio unfurled its 180‑degree wrap‑around screens and launched into a rapid‑fire parody of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s phase timelines from 2019 and 2022. The screens flickered through eleven distinct “phases” of the upcoming sequel—ranging from full‑blown musicals to cryptic, undisclosed release dates—drawing laughter and applause from the packed audience as a genius‑level meta‑joke on franchise‑building.
Josh Gad, who wears the hats of writer, producer, and star, took the stage to field audience questions. In his trademark breezy style, he riffed that the gang might next tackle a “really weird Blade” project, joking that perhaps that oddball crossover would finally see the light of day. More substantively, Gad clarified his own role in the new film: he will not be reprising the beloved Barf—a character forever associated with the late John Candy—but will instead portray an entirely new “mog” (which he playfully spelled “mawg”). He described the movie as a heartfelt love letter to Candy, calling the comedian one of the four figures on his personal comedy Mount Rushmore alongside Rick Moranis, and emphasized that Candy’s spirit is the beating heart of the sequel.
The mystery of Moranis’s whereabouts was solved in real time. After a brief absence, the camera followed a troupe of suited‑up astronauts weaving through the crowd, ultimately uncovering the former McKenzie Brother disguised among fans wearing a Dark Helmet helmet. Moranis rose to a roaring standing ovation, prompting Gad to quip that the studio was already announcing him as part of the next day’s X‑Men cast—a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to the ubiquitous superhero overload at Comic‑Con.
Mel Brooks, though unable to attend in person due to a self‑deprecating quest for a rare Charizard card on the convention floor, sent a video message that captured his trademark wit. He apologized for his absence, recalled his younger self going to “work” on a Friday, and thanked the “nerds” in attendance. Brooks confirmed he will reprise his role as the wise, mystical Yogurt, bridging the original film’s absurdity with the sequel’s new adventures.
Bill Pullman, who played the Han Solo‑type Lone Starr in the original, also appeared via video, claiming he was “tracking down a rare Charizard card in the UK.” His son, Lewis Pullman—who plays Lone Starr’s on‑screen son Starburst—joined the panel live. Lewis recounted his least‑favorite moment from the first film: the scene where Barf knocks his father’s cowboy hat into the void. He confessed that, as a child, he didn’t grasp that the hat was lost forever, and the ongoing gag of trying to reclaim that hat has become a personal touchstone for him, adding that he once harbored “real beef” with Barf over the mishap.
The panel also tackled the inevitable question of how Brooks’ brand of politically incorrect humor—exemplified by Blazing Saddles—will fare in today’s heightened cultural climate. Director Josh Greenbaum asserted that the film’s guiding principle remains simple: “It’s all about the laughs, Mel always said.” Moranis echoed this, noting that a Mel Brooks picture can accommodate both the smartest joke one has ever conceived and the dumbest gag imaginable, giving the sequel room to navigate sensibilities while staying true to its anarchic spirit.
A longer clip than the one screened at CinemaCon was shown to the Hall H audience. It featured Brooks as Yogurt, Keke Palmer in a new role, Lewis Pullman as Starburst, and Daphne Zuniga returning as the now‑Queen Vespa. The highlight—a surreal, almost absurd cameo—depicted an Avatar Na’vi creature walking into a men’s restroom and proceeding to use a urinal, a visual gag that underscored the film’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of parody. The studio clarified that no official trailer would be released during the panel, saving the full reveal for a later date.
Finally, the announcement sealed the sequel’s release window: Spaceballs: The New One will blast into theaters on April 23, 2027. With a blend of nostalgic callbacks, fresh characters, and the same irreverent, joke‑laden spirit that defined the original, the film aims to honor the legacy of Mel Brooks, John Candy, and the whole gang while inviting a new generation to laugh at the cosmos—or at least at the absurdity of trying to get a hat back.