Videos by ComicBook.com
To commemorate the start of production on Spaceballs 2, Amazon MGM Studios posted a black-and-white photo of the cast and crew gathered around, getting ready for a table read. If the image’s composition looks familiar, that’s because it’s modeled after the first-look at the cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In addition to Brooks and Moranis, the ensemble features Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Josh Gad, Keke Palmer, Anthony Carrigan, and George Wyner. Check out the table read photo in the space below:
Spaceballs 2 Is Arriving at the Perfect Time
With the prevalence of new Star Wars movies and TV shows (Lucasfilm just released a trailer for next year’s film The Mandalorian & Grogu), any point in the last few years would have been a great time for a Spaceballs sequel. There’s obviously plenty of fresh material to satirize, giving the creative team numerous opportunities for hilarious comedic set pieces. Beyond that, however, there’s been a bit of a resurgence for spoof movies. In August, The Naked Gun reboot starring Liam Neeson earned positive reviews and grossed $101.8 million at the worldwide box office. There was also Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which wasn’t as acclaimed as The Naked Gun, but still generally well-received as a solid legacy sequel.
It remains to be seen if The Naked Gun and Spinal Tap II usher in a new heyday for parody movies reminiscent of the 1980s, but the theatrical comedy is trying to make a comeback. Modern audiences have demonstrated they’re interested in these kinds of films when they’re done right, so it stands reason to believe Spaceballs 2 will be a decent draw when it releases. There’s a void in the marketplace for titles like this, and if The Naked Gun can become a hit by poking fun at Liam Neeson’s action movie career, Spaceballs 2 can deliver similar results lampooning all the new Star Wars projects out there. Star Wars remains popular, even as some films and TV shows have earned uneven receptions.
