Lost in Translation 466 – Spaceballs: The Sequel

Variety announced on June 18 that a sequel to Spaceballs is in development. Amazon-MGM is working with Mel Brooks to produce what is hoped to be Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money, with John Gad starring. Josh Greenbaum will direct the film.

Spaceballs first came out in 1987 and starred Bill Pullman as Lone Star, John Candy as Lone Star’s first mate Barf, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Lorene Yarnell as Vespa’s protocol droid Dot Matrix, Joan Rivers as the voice of Dot Matrix, George Wynar as Colonel Sandurz, Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet, and Mel Brooks as both President Skriib and Yogurt. Spaceballs was a parody of Star Wars, not just the movie but the merchandising juggernaut it became. The film also made fun of itself and movie making, with at one point the Spaceballs having captured the heroes’ stunt doubles. The effects were done more for laughs than for accuracy, but George Lucas, having read the script, offered the use of Industrial Lights & Magic.

Star Wars is having a renaissance, at least outside theatrical releases, with a number of successful streaming series, including The Mandolorian, Ahsoka, and Andor. There’s more to parody than in 1987, but the merchandising has exploded with every new movie and streaming series. There’s also the nature of sequels to tackle, especially one coming out thirty-seven years after the original. It will take a deft hand at the helm.

Fortunately, Amazon has had success with adaptations. Good Omens, Tales from the Loop, and Fallout have all shown that Amazon can produce an adaptation that is popular and is accurate to the original work. With Tales from the Loop, Amazon’s adaptation built from the art of Simon Stålenhag to build intertwining stories. Good Omens and Fallout both had someone from the original creative team on hand to guide the production.

With the announced Spaceballs sequel, Brooks is back as a producer. Even if he’s not involved in the day-to-day work, having him available can give the push the work needs to feel like a proper Spaceballs movie instead of a gag-a-minute onslaught. It’s too early to tell, but Brooks himself left the door open in the original movie hinting that the cast would come back together for at Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money. Time will tell, ultimately.

May the Schwartz be with you!