By Gem M.
39 years later, the sequel to a cult classic film is on its way with Spaceballs: The New One, and it’s here at Hall H of San Diego Comic Con!
To get the fans excited and ready for the panel, there were screens wrapped around the wall of the room, with a countdown to the panel. The screens then turned into promotional banners of the film.
Kevin Smith was the moderator of the panel and introduced the all star cast. He introduced director Josh Greenbaum and writers Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez. He then also introduced Josh Gad, Daphne Zuniga (who is returning as Princess Vespa), and new actors for the movie Keke Palmer and Lewis Pullman (son of the original film’s star, Bill Pullman.
However, the main attraction was comedy legend Rick Moranis being in attendance for the first time ever at the con. He was not immediately on stage and fans were treated with a comedic bit and reference to the movie where soldiers on the floor brought out the iconic comb and started combing the floor in search for Moranis. They eventually find him in the audience floor wearing the iconic helmet from the film, and he earned a raucous round of applause and love from the crowd as he finally joined the stage.
With everyone on-stage, the panel discussed how Josh Gad led them to finally decide to make the sequel so many years later. Gad was showing the original film to his daughter, and once the film ended, she asked him “Can we watch part two?”. Gad immediately told her there isn’t, but his daughter swore she heard the “weird alien guy said there was going to be a part two”. Gad was trying to explain it was a joke but she ultimately asked the question that got the ball rolling, “Well, why isn’t there a part two?”.
This got Gad thinking that night, and he had the courage to call Mel Brooks. Gad pitched Brooks for 40 minutes, and he eventually loved his pitch. Gad revealed that Brooks has been wanting to make a sequel as well, and he was trying hard to make it happen, which Gad eventually did.
Gad explained that he wanted to make this film because he saw that movies today are mostly associated with sequels and nostalgia and how everyone loves it. He said, “Spaceballs would be the perfect vehicle to catch everything that’s happened in filmdom and in fandom and pop culture in the past forty years”.
Zuniga was asked about how she felt when she found out she’s coming back for the sequel. She told the audience about how she first got cast and how excited she was to get the role despite waiting months to get it. It didn’t surprise her that it took a while for a sequel to happen because she also had to wait a while to get her role initially. Eventually she said she’s happy to be back to reprise her role.
Fans were also treated to footage of Brooks and Moranis reuniting 30 years later, as well as footage of Brooks seeing Zuniga and Bill Pullman as well, delivering a bittersweet moment for the fans.
Keke Palmer was asked what it’s like joining this beloved franchise and why she said yes. She said she loved the script when she got it, saying she was laughing throughout reading it and she knew she had to do it because it brought her joy. Palmer explained that if this can bring her joy, then she knew it would for the watchers, too.
Smith asked Pullman how it feels to act alongside his dad, Bill Pullman, in the franchise that launched his dad’s career. The actor explained that his first initial instinct was to turn it down since he knew it was a big role to cover. However, his dad encouraged him to read the script and he did, which made him see how good the script was. “It was the funniest scripts I’ve ever read,” Pullman says. He knew he would be a fool if he turned this down. “It would be weird if I didn’t do it,” he said. “And I would be on my deathbed and be like, that was a weird choice.”
Both the audience and Pullman were then surprised by a video by Bill Pullman, who couldn’t be there since he was filming in London at that time. The elder Pullman mentioned he had a letter he gave to Gad for him to read, and Gad then gave it to Lewis for him to read out loud.
As Lewis read it, it was at first sweet, with Bill excited to come back to film and reprise his role. He was also excited to be back with his family after a long time. The letter then turned comedic when Lewis started naming those family members, and they were actually parts of the film’s cast and crew and not Lewis, which earned a confused from Lewis himself. He kept reading and Bill kept thanking others until he finally acknowledged Lewis…..’s hair and makeup team, earning a hearty laugh from everyone. But eventually Bill acknowledged Lewis by reminding him to pay his mom back for the phone bill in Australia.
Smith asked if there are plans for any future films, to which Gad answered, “it’s such a great question Kevin. Thanks for asking. And what we were hoping you would ask.”
“We’re really excited,” he continued, “Right here in Hall H, to announce that this is just the beginning of our Spaceballs Cinematic Universe!” The crowd laughed as the big screens around the hall started to show the different phases the Spaceballs Universe will have, including the spinoffs, shows, and other media that will happen in the universe. They even showed the future watch order plan, so fans can prepare for when this cinematic universe happens. Everyone in the audience loved it as it was clear this was them “following” another big movie franchise’s plan who would also have a panel the following day.
The best part for the fans was the official name of this prequel saga: “The Almighty Schwartz Saga” part of a bigger whole, otherwise known as The ASS Whole.
Fans were then treated with a first look at the trailer for The New One, and would go home with a poster for the movie. Everyone in Hall H cheered with excitement.
The movie is expected to release in theaters on April 23, 2027. May the Schwartz be with you!
Stay tuned to The Beat for more news from SDCC ‘26.
