Latest news with #DarkHelmet
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Spaceballs star Rick Moranis, 72, does not look like this anymore
Rick Moranis hasn't been seen on screen in a theatrical feature film in nearly three decades. So it was quite the shock for fans of the 72-year-old actor and comedian when it was announced last week that he will be making his long-awaited return to movies. Director Mel Brooks, 99, was in fine spirits as he shared the news that Moranis would be back in action for a sequel to his sci-fi parody Spaceballs (1987). The Canadian comedy legend appeared in the original film — which was beset by middling reviews before being adopted as a cult classic — as Dark Helmet, a parody of Star Wars ' Darth Vader. Since his comedy heyday in films of the 1980s and '90s, Moranis has been on a decades-long Hollywood hiatus to allow him to focus on raising his children as a single parent. Now, nearly 30 years after he stepped back from the silver screen, takes a look at what Moranis looks like today. The comic star was nearly unrecognizable when he was spotted this week on a busy day running errands in New York City. Moranis was on the move in a casual but sporty outfit with a pale yellow ribbed polo shirt, blue athletic shorts and a white baseball cap. He stuck with simple black trainers and carried a reusable back to take care of some shopping while he was out. The actor has stayed impressively trim over the last few decades, but his appearance was considerably different after losing the baby-faced looks that helped him get laughs early on. Moranis soundtracked his walk with earbuds, and he was seen marching back with two full bags after finishing his shopping. The Ghostbusters star's gradual retreat from Hollywood began following the tragic death of his wife Ann Belsky in 1991 after a battle with cancer. In a 2005 interview with USA Today, Moranis clarified that his family was his main motivation for holding off on more time-consuming film shoots. 'I'm a single parent and I just found that it was too difficult to manage to raise my kids and to do the traveling involved in making movies. So I took a little bit of a break,' he explained. 'And the little bit of a break turned into a longer break, and then I found that I really didn't miss it.' Moranis' final on-screen appearance in a theatrical feature was for the 1996 comedy Big Bully, which he starred in opposite Tom Arnold. However, the following year he played a lead role in the straight-to-video sequel Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. Moranis was more willing to focus on voice acting in subsequent years, as recording sessions take far less time than on-camera appearances. He voiced characters in multiple children's cartoons, as well as his final theatrical film, the 2003 Disney animated feature Brother Bear. He continued with voice acting throughout the 2000s, and he made a rare live-action return for the TV Movie Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary, a sequel to the 1983 cult classic comedy film Strange Brew that costarred Canadian comedy legend Dave Thomas. Aside from that, Moranis' only roles in recent years were a brief voice appearance as his Spaceballs character Dark Helmet in a 2018 episode of The Goldbergs and a 2020 Mint Mobile commercial that he starred in with Ryan Reynolds. Despite mostly eschewing the spotlight, Moranis has clarified that he doesn't consider himself officially retired. After it was reported that he turned down a cameo offer in the woman-led 2016 version of Ghostbusters — which original stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver all appeared in — Moranis explained prior to the film's release that he has only been on a 'hiatus,' and now that his children — Rachel and Mitchell — are grown up he is no longer opposed to acting. In 2015, he clarified that he didn't consider himself retired, but rather on hiatus, after he turned down a cameo in the 2016 woman-led Ghostbusters sequel He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015 that he was simply much more selective about what roles he was willing to take on this far into his career. 'I took a break, which turned into a longer break,' he said. 'But I'm interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest.' 'I wish them well,' he added. 'I hope it's terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?' The film would have been a legacy sequel starring Josh Gad as the son of Moranis' reckless inventor, with the older star reprising his original role. However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the production to be put on hold. Gad shared his desire to push forward with the project in subsequent years, and he said he had been collaborating with Moranis on the film as recently as 2022. However, Gad admitted in 2023 that the sequel is now dead in the water, though it could potentially be revived at a future date. Despite Shrunk's misfortune, Moranis will still be making his long-awaited return to movies with the Spaceballs sequel, which is slated for a 2027 release. The returning stars include Brooks, who will be playing his Yoda-like character Yogurt, along with Bill Pullman as Lone Starr and Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa. The film has also gotten some new blood, as Pullman's real-life son Lewis Pullman will be joining the cast to play his character's son Starburst, while Keke Palmer will be playing a character named Destiny and Josh Gad will be appearing in an undisclosed role. Brooks co-wrote and directed the original Spaceballs, but Josh Greenbaum is now taking over directing duties, while Gad, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit are collaborating on the screenplay.
Geek Tyrant
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Honest Trailers Goes Full Ludicrous Speed on SPACEBALLS — GeekTyrant
Screen Junkies just dropped an Honest Trailer for Spaceballs , and it's a gloriously stupid, perfectly timed tribute to Mel Brooks' sci-fi parody masterpiece, specially now that Spaceballs 2 is officially on the way. The video rockets through everything that made the original film a chaotic gem like Rick Moranis as the congested Dark Helmet, Yogurt's low-rent mysticism, Barf being his own best friend, flamethrowers, virgin alarms, and that cursed Alien musical number. It amusingly jokes about shameless merchandising, fourth-wall breaks, and the iconic password gag "12345?!", while also reminding us just how ahead of its time it was in skewering Star Wars and the entire culture of blockbuster branding. As the Schwartz reawakens, Honest Trailers reminds us why this galaxy of dumb jokes and cheap effects still rules, because in the end, we ain't found shit… quite like it.
NBC News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Mel Brooks announces ‘Spaceballs' sequel with video
The Schwartz will be with us again. Mel Brooks will reprise his 'Spaceballs' role as Yogurt in the upcoming sequel to the hit 1987 'Star Wars' spoof that will be released in theaters. The comedy legend, 98, hyped the new movie in a post on X on June 12. 'I told you we'd be back,' Brooks captioned the post. The clip features words scrolling on the screen, 'Star Wars'-style, with music underneath. The video begins by poking fun at how many 'Star Wars' movies have been made in the years since 'Spaceballs' came out in 1987. It goes on to joke about the high volume of films and TV series in other franchises, including 'Dune,' 'Jurassic Park,' 'Avatar,' Marvel, DC Comics, 'The Lion King,' 'Harry Potter,' 'Star Trek,' 'Alien,' 'Predator' and even the Beatles, as well as 'Oppenheimer.' 'But in thirty-eight years there has only ever been one … 'Spaceballs.' Until now …' the text reads before Brooks appears wearing a sweatshirt that says ''Spaceballs' the sweatshirt,' a nod to the merchandising jokes that run throughout the original film. 'After 40 years, we asked, 'What do the fans want?' But instead, we're making this movie,' Brooks says at the end of the video before a giant Dark Helmet head appears with the words, 'The Schwartz awakens in 2027.' 'May the Schwartz be with you,' Brooks then says as the clip draws to a close. '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,'' Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement. Josh Greenbaum will direct the film, which will be written by a team of writers, including Josh Gad, who teased the sequel last year. Gad shared Brooks' video while expressing his excitement about joining the 'Spaceballs' universe. 'I was that child who saw 'Spaceballs' before I ever saw 'Star Wars' and then wondered why anyone would do a dramatic remake of the Mel Brooks classic,' he wrote on Instagram on June 12. 'It is therefore the greatest gift of my life to now help take the reins and work alongside Mel and this incredible group to do a sequel to the movie that first inspired George Lucas.' Deadline reports Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis will return for the 'Spaceballs' sequel to reprise their roles as Lone Starr and Dark Helmet, respectively. Moranis has not appeared in many movies over the last three decades after being a staple on the big screen in the '80s and early '90s. Keke Palmer is also set to star in the movie, according to Deadline, as is Lewis Pullman, the Emmy-nominated son of Bill. has reached out to Amazon MGM Studios for comment on the casting.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rick Moranis set for shock return to acting in iconic blockbuster sequel 30 years after quitting fame
Rick Moranis is making a return to acting nearly 30 years after he quit Hollywood to look after his children following the death of his wife. The 72-year-old will be reprising one of his biggest roles as he will once again star as Dark Helmet in the sequel to classic 1987 parody film Spaceballs it was announced by comedy legend Mel Brooks on Thursday. has reached out to representatives for Moranis and have yet to hear back. The talented actor made the decision to focus on being a single father after losing is wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, to breast cancer in February 1991. The couple had two children together: Rachel and Mitchell. Joining Moranis is former costar Bill Pullman who starred as Lone Starr in the original flick and newcomer Keke Palmer according to a Thursday report from Deadline. The film's original director Brooks will also be returning and will reprise his role as President Skroob. It is slated for release in theaters in 2027. The actor made the decision to focus on being a single father after losing is wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, to breast cancer in February 1991, as they are seen together at the 1990 Academy Awards The original 1987 film lampooned the sci-fi genre as it poked fun at the Star Wars franchise, primarily, in addition to other classic films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet Of The Apes, and Star Trek. It was centered around the evil Dark Helmet (Moranis) and President Skroob (Brooks) as they attempt to steal the atmosphere of peaceful planet Druidia. However, they are challenged by protagonist and hero Lone Starr (Pullman) and his sidekick Barf (the late John Candy), and the Druish princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga). His last on-camera role before his decades-long hiatus came when he completed the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids trilogy with straight-to-video sequel Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997. Despite taking a step back from the spotlight, he never retired from the industry as he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015: 'I took a break, which turned into a longer break. 'But I'm interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest.' He was offered a cameo in the 2016 female-driven Ghostbusters reboot alongside co-stars including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver but turned it down. 'I wish them well,' he told the publication. 'I hope it's terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?' Other than the Spaceballs and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids franchises, Moranis had a very successful Hollywood career as he also famously starred in Ghostbusters (1984) and sequel Ghostbusters II (1989). He also starred in Frank Oz directed sci-fi film LIttle Shop Of Horrors in 1986 in addition to 1989's Parenthood and 1983's Strange Brew. Moranis also portrayed Barney Rubble in the live action The Flintstones movie in 1994 starring alongside John Goodman, Elizabeth Perkins, Rosie O'Donnell, Halle Berry, and Elizabeth Taylor. Despite his break from acting onscreen, he has since done voicework for a few animated projects including 2003 film Brother Bear and TV series The Animated Adventures Of Bob & Doug McKenzie but not appeared on camera since the Disney franchise. His original return to acting was supposed to come in the form of the aforementioned Honey, I Shrunk The Kids franchise. It was announced that he would be returning as protagonist Wayne Szalinski for a fourth film - titled Shrunk - in February 2020. Original director Joe Johnston is set to return to direct the new project as Frozen's Josh Gad is set to star as Moranis' son Nick. However, the project was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Disney+ moving away from long-form streaming content.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mel Brooks confirmed Spaceballs 2 with a pitch-perfect announcement
Mel Brooks confirmed Spaceballs 2 with a pitch-perfect announcement The Schwartz is strong with comedy legend Mel Brooks as he formally announced on Thursday that the long-anticipated Spaceballs sequel will be flying into theaters in 2027. Brooks, who will turn 99 on June 28, gleefully shared in the hilarious announcement video that, rather than giving the fans what they want, they're making another Spaceballs instead. Of course, he was rocking a "Spaceballs: The Sweatshirt" ... sweatshirt. He will reportedly reprise his role as Yoda spoof Yogurt in the new film, which makes it all even cooler. Bill Pullman (Lone Starr) and Rick Moranis (Dark Helmet) will both reportedly return in the new project, while Josh Gad (a co-writer on the project) and Keke Palmer are reported new additions to the cast. Josh Greenbaum (Strays) is directing. Moranis' return is a particular big deal since he has not acted in a theatrical film since 1996. While we have no idea what's in store for this new Spaceballs film, one can only imagine how much there is for Brooks and company to spoof this time around. May the Schwartz be with us all as we wait for 2027, which we hopes gets here with ludicrous speed.
