A “Spaceballs” sequel is in development at Amazon MGM Studios. Josh Gad is set to star, and will produce alongside Mel Brooks.
Josh Greenbaum will direct the film from a screenplay by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Gad, while Kevin Salter will executive produce. The project is in early stages, and plot details are being kept under wraps. Amazon declined to comment.
Writing duo Samit and Hernandez are best known for their work as screenwriters for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” “Pokemon Detective Pikachu,” “Addams Family 2,” and the upcoming Disney+/Lucasfilm special “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy.”
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The original 1987 MGM film “Spaceballs” starred Bill Pullman as Lone Star, John Candy as Barf, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Rick Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet and Brooks as President Skroob and Yogurt. The space opera is a parody of both the “Star Wars” franchise and other popular sci-fi franchises like “Star Trek” and “Alien.”
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Gad, best known for his work on Broadway in “The Book of Mormon” and as the voice of lovable snowman Olaf in the “Frozen” franchise, is next set to make his directorial debut with a Chris Farley biopic starring Paul Walter Hauser as the iconic comedian. He most recently starred alongside his “Book of Mormon” co-star Andrew Rannells in “Gutenberg! The Musical!” on Broadway.
This isn’t Brooks’ first time revisiting a classic comedy in recent years. In 2023, he wrote and produced “History of the World, Part II,” a follow-up to his 1981 “Part I” feature. Brooks, one of the few entertainers to boast prestigious EGOT status, directed and starred in films such as “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” He was also honored with the Career Achievement Award at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards earlier this month.
Gad is represented by CAA, Sugar 23, ImPRint, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP.
