100-year-old comedy icon Mel Brooks had a “big influence” on the upcoming Spaceballs sequel, according to star Daphne Zuniga.
Zuniga, 63, famously played Princess Vespa in the original 1987 Star Wars parody. She is set to reprise her role in the new film, alongside Bill Pullman as Lone Starr and Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet.
Pullman’s son Lewis joins the cast, alongside Josh Gad and Keke Palmer.
During a Melrose Place panel at 90s Con, per People, Zuniga revealed that Brooks shot his scenes for the sequel ahead of the rest of the production.
“We filmed Spaceballs: The New One that Mel Brooks worked with the writers on. He’s a big influence in it,” she said. “He filmed his part already before we shot. It was his idea: ‘You better film me now because I’m 100.’ So we did.”
Spaceballs: The New One is set to be released on April 23, 2027, and Zuniga described the production as “great fun.”
Brooks originally confirmed his involvement in the film back in 2025, with a teaser clip posted to social media which he captioned: “I told you we’d be back.”
In the style of the famous Star Wars opening scroll, a message read: “Thirty-eight years ago, there was only one Star Wars trilogy...”
The message went on to mention the huge amount of sequels and spin-offs released since then, including the films and television series set in the Stars Wars universe but also referencing Dune, Jurassic Park, Alien, Harry Potter and “36 MCU movies with two different Robert Downey Jr.’s.”
At the end of the scroll, Brooks appeared in person wearing a sweater with the slogan: “SPACEBALLS THE SWEATSHIRT.”
He said: “After 40 years we asked what do the fans want... but instead, we’re making this movie.”
It had previously been announced that Josh Gad would lead the cast of the sequel, which is set to be directed by Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar filmmaker Josh Greenbaum.
In his own social media message, Gad wrote: “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.
“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.”
Spaceballs: The New One is being produced by Amazon MGM and will premiere in theaters. It has been jokingly dubbed by the studio as: “A Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film.”
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