Latest news with #RickMoranis
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.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Halle Berry Makes Surprising Admission About 1994 Role in 'The Flintstones'
Halle Berry revealed she felt 'shy' when she played a seductive secretary in The Flintstones movie more than 30 years ago. The future Oscar winner was just 27 years old when she played Fred Flintstone's (John Goodman) sexy assistant, Miss Sharon Stone, in the 1994 live-action film. Berry, 58, took to X in July 2025 to share photos of her character wearing two-piece animal print outfits, and she noted that fans send her pictures from the movie "almost weekly." "Did you guys know I went into this somewhat shy as I hadn't really played this type of vixen/seductress role up until this point 🤷🏽♀️," the actress wrote. Before The Flintstones, Berry appeared in films such as Jungle Fever and Boomerang. She previously told Hollywood Fix she fought to get the part in The Flintstones, which also starred Rick Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, Kyle MacLachlan, Rosie O'Donnell, and Elizabeth Taylor. 'I talked to Brian Levant, the director, about it," Berry recalled in the vintage interview. 'The first meeting, I told him that Bedrock should be integrated, and this is the perfect character because it wasn't in the original [cartoon series]. She could be anything, and she should be Black. … So, I auditioned, and I got the role.' Of her wardrobe, she added, 'I did the coolest jewelry by far, the coolest jewelry and the barest costumes, I mean the barest of them all, but it was fun." Berry also reflected on The Flintstones in honor of the film's 30th anniversary in 2024. In an Instagram Reel, the actress admitted she hadn't seen the movie in 'probably 20 years.' After pointing to her character's 'young' voice and 'iconic' pixie haircut, she acknowledged the importance of her casting in the movie. 'Being a Black woman in Bedrock seemed like a little thing but, you know, The Flintstones was the fabric of our culture,' she told fans. 'I knew that this was a big step forward for Black people, Black women especially. While it was silly, and it was over the top and campy, I knew then how important this little part in this big movie actually would be,' she added. 'Love you all for loving Miss Stone all this time,' Berry captioned the Berry Makes Surprising Admission About 1994 Role in 'The Flintstones' first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 8, 2025
Geek Tyrant
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
SAPCEBALLS 3 Is Reportedly in Development After SPACEBALLS 2 Announcement — GeekTyrant
The Schwartz may be growing stronger than we thought. While Spaceballs 2 is still on track for its 2027 theatrical debut, a new rumor suggests Amazon MGM Studios is already quietly moving ahead with Spaceballs 3 . The report came from trusted scooper MyTimeToShineHello, who posted on X, 'MGM already developing a SPACEBALLS 3.' No official confirmation from Amazon just yet, but if true, this signals that the long-dormant parody franchise is being set up for a full-on revival. We might be getting a Spaceballs trilogy. This rumor drops just weeks after solid details emerged about Spaceballs 2 , which is being pitched as a 'Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film.' The cast of Spaceballs 2 is shaping up to be a mix of legacy and new blood. Bill Pullman is returning as Lone Starr. Rick Moranis is back in the oversized helmet as Dark Helmet. Mel Brooks is also returning as Yogurt. They'll be joined by newcomers Keke Palmer and Lewis Pullman as Lone Starr's son. Josh Greenbaum ( Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar ) is directing, with a script from Detective Pikachu writers Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, along with Josh Gad, who's also starring and producing. The film's producing team includes Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Jeb Brody, Greenbaum, and Mel Brooks, with executive producers Kevin Salter, Adam Merims, Samit, and Hernandez. The original Spaceballs launched in 1987 as a loving (and ridiculous) spoof of Star Wars , 2001: A Space Odyssey , and other classic sci-fi. It was met with a lukewarm critical reception but carved out cult status, thanks to its absurd humor, great characters, and quotable lines. So, is Spaceballs 3 really in motion before Part 2 even hits theaters? It's still just a rumor, but the idea of Amazon MGM Studios going all-in on the franchise makes sense. There's nostalgia, name recognition, and a perfect moment to poke fun at modern IP-obsessed Hollywood.
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.
Geek Tyrant
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Rick Moranis Once Pitched a Wild SPACEBALLS Sequel SPACEBALLS III: THE SEARCH FOR SPACEBALLS II — GeekTyrant
Long before the new Spaceballs sequel entered active development, Rick Moranis had his own delightfully absurd take on what a sequel could be, and judging from the title, Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II , it sounds like a meta and ridiculous idea that fans would've enjoyed. In an interview with Heeb, Moranis revealed that after the original Spaceballs became a cult hit on home video (it wasn't a box office smash when it was released), MGM was interested in a sequel. Moranis pitched one directly to Mel Brooks, and it was perfectly on-brand. He said: 'Mel wanted to do a sequel after it became a cult video hit. It wasn't a box office hit. It was a cult video hit, and MGM wanted to do a sequel. And my idea for it was Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II. And I was unable to make a deal with Mel. I couldn't make a deal.' Moranis wanted to skip right over Spaceballs II and go straight to III, which is exactly the kind of nonsensical, self-aware comedy that made the original such a gem. The title alone is perfect. Unfortunately, the project stalled due to deal issues between Moranis and Brooks. 'I wasn't privy to what the budget was or anything, but the deal he presented me, what he wanted me to do, was not workable. It was two or three years later. 'He wanted me to … it's better if I don't get into the particulars of it. Because it is so specific, it's counter-productive to talk about it. But I was unable to make a deal, and it would have been something I would have wanted to do.' That's a shame, because The Search for Spaceballs II would've likely leaned hard into the franchise's self-parody and sci-fi satire. Well, a Spaceballs sequel is finally happening. It's currently slated for release in 2027, with Josh Greenbaum ( Strays ) directing and a script from Josh Gad, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez. Moranis is returning as Dark Helmet, and he'll be joined by fellow original cast members Bill Pullman (Lone Star), Daphne Zuniga (Princess Vespa), and Mel Brooks himself, who will reprise his role as Yogurt and President Skroob. Spaceballs follows Lone Star and Barf (the late, great John Candy), a Han-and-Chewie-style duo on a quest to rescue Princess Vespa from the clutches of the hilariously evil Dark Helmet, who plans to steal her planet's air supply. While Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II was never meant to see the light of day, at least fans can look forward to a sequel that brings the original gang back together. Here's hoping it's just as gloriously ridiculous as Moranis once imagined.
