Mel Brooks Promises to Punch Up ‘Spaceballs 2’ Script to ‘Make Sure It’s Funny’

Forget about superheroes, this is the age of the MCU: Mel (Brooks) Cinematic Universe.

Even though the 99-year-old Brooks hasn’t directed a movie since the days of the Clinton administration, several of his classic comedies are now being sequelized, and even prequelized. Back in 2023 there was the belated streaming series follow-up to Brooks’ 1981 film History of the World, Part II (appropriately titled History of the World, Part II). And now there is a Very Young Frankenstein pilot in the works. As far as we know, there are no current plans to make Life Stinks II: Even Stinkier.

But the Brooks-associated project that people seem to be most looking forward to is Spaceballs 2, which may or may not be subtitled “The Search for More Money,” as prophesied.

Some fans have been waiting for nearly four decades to find out what happened to Lone Star, Dark Helmet and, to a lesser extent, that roadside diner chestburster. But as with History of the World, Part II, Brooks won’t be writing or directing the sequel, merely producing it and reprising his role of Yogurt the Wise. The movie is to be directed by Josh Greenbaum, and the script was written by Josh Gad, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit.

But that doesn’t mean that Brooks won’t contribute any jokes to Spaceballs 2. The Blazing Saddles director recently spoke with The Telegraph about the project and explained, “I can’t give away the plot or story, but I can tell you that Rick Moranis doesn’t look any older than he looked when he was Dark Helmet the first time. He’s just so funny.”

“I’m going to be playing Yogurt,” Brooks continued. “I never looked like him in real life. So I don’t look like Yogurt once again! But thank God my voice is okay, so I can do it.” He also noted that Gad and company have “written a good script,” adding, “and I just punch it up, to make sure that it’s funny.”

This may be welcome news to anyone who was concerned about getting a Spaceballs sequel not written by Brooks. Although, to be fair, this new movie is seemingly a parody of the recent Star Wars sequels, which were similarly created by a new crop of writers and directors, rather than George Lucas. 

So, in a way, it actually makes more sense that Spaceballs 2 isn’t coming directly from Brooks. Although, unlike Lucas, Brooks is still creatively involved with the movie. That said, he probably won’t be calling the franchise’s new owners “white slavers” as a certain bearded billionaire once did.