Mel Brooks Says He Persuaded Rick Moranis to Return for Spaceballs 2

Rick Moranis, who largely stepped away from live-action film after 1997, will return as Dark Helmet in Spaceballs 2. Mel Brooks, now 99, said he convinced the 72-year-old by asking, "Look, do you want to go to your grave without ever coming back to show business again in any way?

... This is the way. This is the only way. Spaceballs, Dark Helmet — that’s your re-entrance." Brooks added, "He’s never been better. He’s even better than in the first edition. He’s so good. He’s a strange, wonderful, lovely guy and a very talented comic." Several members of the original cast are also set to return, including Bill Pullman as Lone Starr, Daphne Zuniga as Queen Vespa, and George Syner as Colonel Sandurz.

John Candy and Joan Rivers, who played Barf and Dot Matrix, have since passed and will not be part of the new film. Brooks will appear as Yogurt and as President Skroob but will not direct; Josh Greenbaum is the director. Brooks contributed to the script, which was also written by Josh Gad, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez.

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