Rick Moranis spent nearly 30 years retired from acting, but the comedy icon finally got back in front of the camera last fall to reprise the role of Lord Dark Helmet in “Spaceballs 2: The New One.” Acting again threw Moranis for a loop, not least because he was returning alongside his original “Spaceballs” co-stars to film a sequel nearly 40 years later.
“Well, I kept having to pinch myself because I would look at Daphne [Zuniga] and Bill [Pullman] and George Wyner. And then there were all these young people,” Moranis said at Comic-Con (via People). “And I realized I was their age 39 years ago when we made this. And here we are now and my kids are the age of this.”
Moranis added, “I felt like I was in a time warp, but I was in that outfit and wearing the helmet. And it just felt very strange to be honest with you. But it started to feel really good and I really started to love it.”
“Spaceballs 2” reunites Moranis with original stars George Wyner as Colonel Sandurz, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Bill Pullman as Lone Starr and Mel Brooks as Yogurt. Franchise newcomers include Josh Gad, Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman and Anthony Carrigan, whose roles remain under wraps for now. “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and “Will & Harper” helmer Josh Greenbaum directed the sequel. Gad co-wrote the script with Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez.
Moranis’ last live-action role in a feature film was in the 1997 comedy sequel “Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves,” although he had voice roles in two “Brother Bear” movies in the mid-2000s. His acting work in the 21st century has largely been relegated to voice roles, including two seasons of the Canadian animated sitcom he co-created titled “Bob & Doug.”
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“Spaceballs: The New One” will release in theaters on April 23, 2027.