“The Schwartz Awakens in 2027”
Mel Brooks returns. But will the joke still land in a galaxy this self-aware?
The first time I saw Spaceballs, I was 12. I didn't get all the jokes, but I laughed anyway—hard. Rick Moranis's helmet, Barf's tail, that somehow brilliant alien chestburster homage—it was chaos. Sweet, stupid, perfect chaos.
Now, 38 years later—40 by the time it lands in theaters—Amazon MGM Studios is officially waking up the Schwartz again. Spaceballs 2 is happening. It's real. Mel Brooks appears in the teaser, 98 years old and sharper than most directors half his age. Josh Gad is writing and starring. Josh Greenbaum (of Strays and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) is directing. And if you told me this was fake news two weeks ago, I would've believed you.
But no—it's happening. And here's the thing that won't leave my brain:
What the hell is left to parody?
Parody in the Post-Postmodern Era
Back in 1987, Spaceballs had a clear enemy: the original Star Wars trilogy and the George Lucas machine. It spoofed everything from hyperspace tropes to merchandising insanity (still arguably the film's best bit—Spaceballs: the Flamethrower!). The timing was perfect. People loved Star Wars, but they were ready to laugh at it, too.
Now fast forward to 2025. Star Wars has already parodied itself to death. The Mandalorian is sincere and goofy. Rise of Skywalker was unintentional parody. The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special exists.
So what does Spaceballs 2 do with that?
Josh Gad, who co-wrote the script with Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, seems like the right guy to figure it out—if only because he's been inside the franchise machine (Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, even Pixels). He knows the language. And Greenbaum has proven he can wrangle absurdity (Strays had talking dogs and somehow emotional resonance—don't ask how).
But the challenge is clear: parody only works when the thing being mocked takes itself too seriously. These days, the only thing more self-referential than a Marvel movie… is a Marvel parody inside a Marvel movie.
What the Teaser Gets Right
The teaser, released by Amazon MGM, is smart. It leans hard into a Star Wars-style opening crawl riffing on how many sequels, spin-offs, reboots, legacy-quels, and “origin story prequels” we've endured since 1987. It's not subtle. But it's sharp.
It ends with:
“I told you we'd be back.”
Simple. Self-aware. Defiant.
And there's power in that. Mel Brooks showing up on screen at 98—alive, involved, and still funny—gives this whole thing instant credibility. He could've let it fade into cult comedy history. Instead, he's producing the sequel himself, as if to say: “Alright, you wanna reboot? I'll show you how it's done.”
What We Know So Far (And What We Don't)
Confirmed Details:
- Title: Spaceballs 2 (tentative; no subtitle yet)
- Release Year: 2027
- Studio: Amazon MGM Studios
- Director: Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star, Strays)
- Writers: Josh Gad, Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez
- Producers: Mel Brooks, Josh Gad
- Format: Likely theatrical first—then streaming (per Amazon's teaser copy)
No casting beyond Gad has been confirmed. No word on whether Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, or a post-retirement Rick Moranis will return. No footage either—just the teaser scroll and Mel Brooks himself.
Why It Might Work Anyway
Because the first Spaceballs wasn't just a parody. It was a comedy built on character types. Lone Starr. Barf. Dot Matrix. Princess Vespa. They weren't just spoofs—they were likable. You remember them even if you didn't catch all the references.
If Gad and Greenbaum can recapture that spirit—not just spoofing franchises but finding the emotional dumb heart under the dumb sci-fi armor—this might not just work. It might actually matter.
And let's be honest: the idea of Mel Brooks going full circle at nearly 100, passing the Schwartz to a new generation? That's poetic. Even mythic.
The Final Frame
Of course, it could all fall apart. The jokes could flop. The meta could get tired. Gad might be too Gad. The streaming release might dilute the impact. We've seen nostalgia sequels land with a splat before.
But damn it, I want this to work. I need this to work. Not just for the laughs, but because comedy sequels almost never get the second chance they deserve—and Mel Brooks, of all people, deserves to go out with a bang. Or at least one more flamethrower joke.
So yeah, I'll rewatch the original a few more times. Maybe even dust off my Schwartz ring.
Because ready or not, the Schwartz is waking up.
