Josh Gad Had to Explain Star Wars to Mel Brooks For Spaceballs Sequel

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As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’ve often found myself in the peculiar position of having to bridge generational gaps when it comes to humor. Recently, while pitching ideas for a sequel to “Spaceballs,” I encountered an intriguing challenge: explaining the complexities and nuances of modern “Star Wars” lore to someone who hadn’t kept up with the newer films – none other than comedy legend, Mel Brooks himself. In a chat on “Let’s Talk Off Camera” with Kelly Ripa (via Entertainment Weekly), I shared that Brooks admitted his lack of familiarity with the more recent “Star Wars” films. Consequently, it fell upon me to fill him in on the galaxy far, far away.

Gad stated that he performs for about 40 minutes, describing it as if he’s about to go into battle with only one audience member watching. He explained how he throws himself into every detail and every joke, every surprise, every setup, and every Star Wars reference. His presentation was meticulously crafted to resonate with a specific moment in Star Wars. Upon hearing this, Brooks responded, “Wow, Josh, it seems like you’ve really got your finger on the pulse!

As a die-hard fan of cinema, I’m thrilled to share that the long-awaited sequel to the iconic Spaceballs is being crafted at Amazon MGM Studios! Ted Danson, who’s directing this project, described it as an affectionate tribute not just to Spaceballs, but to everything Mel Brooks ever created. He’s been quite mysterious about additional details, playfully hinting that he might face the wrath of Amazon’s Space Force if he disclosed too much!

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As a seasoned movie critic, I can’t help but notice the opportune moment for a fresh take on the classic comedy “Spaceballs.” With the original 1987 film primarily poking fun at the first Star Wars trilogy, the subsequent eight movies and numerous TV shows have opened up a treasure trove of new material. Who knows, this sequel might even satirize the “legacy sequel” trend, a format that gained prominence with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Josh Greenbaum, the man behind “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and the latest Will Ferrell documentary “Will & Harper”, will take charge of the upcoming project. His association with “Star Wars” is significant as he directed “Behind the Mac: Skywalker Sound”, a short film highlighting the sound designers of the franchise. On the other hand, Gad collaborated with Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit on the script. This dynamic duo wrote the recent Disney+ series “Star Wars LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” and previously worked with Gad on various projects like “1600 Penn”, “Central Park”, and also penned “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”.

1987’s original cast included Bill Pullman and John Candy as pilots Lone Starr and Barf, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Joan Rivers as robot Dot Matrix, Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet, and a dual role for Brooks himself as President Skroob and Yogurt. Gad has previously endeavored to revive another Rick Moranis project, but the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids sequel development halted. Yet, this is his second collaboration with Brooks, following their work together in History of the World Part II, available on Hulu.

Although no specific release date has been given yet, it’s possible that the movie could come out in 2025 if filming starts soon. Fans are guessing that the sequel may be titled “Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money“, but some also suggest “Spaceballs: The Schwartz Awakens” as another option.

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In my professional journey, collaborating with the legendary Mel Brooks on this project has undeniably been one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. It’s incredible how working side by side with such an icon can result in something truly extraordinary.

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2025-01-05 06:39