Spaceballs 2 has officially wrapped filming, marking a major milestone for a sequel that has lingered in the realm of movie-fan hypotheticals for decades. Josh Gad — who serves as co-writer, producer, and one of the film’s stars — confirmed the update on Facebook, noting that the production moved at what he jokingly called “Ludicrous speed.” The long-gestating follow-up to Mel Brooks’ 1987 sci-fi parody now shifts into post-production, positioning it to comfortably hit its planned 2027 release window.
According to Gad, the project began taking shape three years ago when he reached out to Brooks about revisiting the universe of Yogurt, Lone Starr, and Dark Helmet. To his surprise, Brooks agreed. The original film’s writer-director-producer is back on board as a producer and cast member, reprising his roles as both Yogurt and the ever-inept President Skroob. Gad stressed the significance of Brooks’ involvement, framing it as a key factor in keeping the film connected to the tone and sensibility of the original.
Josh Greenbaum is directing the sequel, and Gad referred to him as one of the best directors he’s had the opportunity to work with — a strong endorsement, though the production still faces the challenge of balancing nostalgia with contemporary humor. Gad also thanked the crew, Amazon MGM Studios, and his co-writers, suggesting a collaborative approach to updating a film whose comedic legacy is tied closely to late-1980s genre parody.
Much of the original cast is returning. Bill Pullman is back as Lone Starr, Daphne Zuniga again plays Vespa, Rick Moranis returns as Dark Helmet after largely stepping away from live-action film work, and George Wyner reprises Colonel Sandurz. The return of Moranis is likely to be the biggest draw for many longtime fans, given his decades-long hiatus from major film roles.
New cast additions include Keke Palmer, Anthony Carrigan, and Lewis Pullman, with the younger Pullman cast as Starburst — the son of Lone Starr and Vespa. This generational twist hints at how the film might bridge the old ensemble with new characters, though plot details remain under wraps.
One of the more intriguing questions surrounding Spaceballs 2 is how it will approach four decades of new sci-fi material. The original film drew heavily from Star Wars, but the cultural landscape now includes the prequel and sequel trilogies, the Disney-era streaming universe, Star Trek reboots, Avatar, Dune, The Matrix, Alien, Predator, and a rotating slate of superhero and multiverse stories. The sequel has no shortage of targets, but the challenge will be keeping the parody sharp rather than overstuffed.
With principal photography complete well ahead of schedule, the film now enters what could be a lengthy post-production phase. That runway gives the team plenty of time to refine the visual gags, effects work and comedic timing that will determine how well Spaceballs 2 stands alongside — or apart from — the original. Until then, speculation over which franchises will get skewered next will likely fill the gap.
