Despite appearing in the long overdue Spaceballs sequel, Lewis Pullman has yet to meet Mel Brooks.
After he “just wrapped” filming, the Spaceballs 2 actor noted that the co-writer/director of the original space opera parody “didn’t come out” to the set of the sequel to his 1987 film, which starred Lewis’ father Bill Pullman.
“He’s a homebody, but he was definitely part of it,” he explained on The View. “His spirit was there, he was part of the design of it. He launched us!”
Pullman added, “I still haven’t met him, but when he sent me the role, I got a voice note from him. I wish you could frame a voice note. I couldn’t believe it because I grew up watching that movie. That was one of my dad’s movies I was allowed to watch growing up, and I remember seeing Star Wars, and I was like, ‘Why did they remake Spaceballs without all the jokes?’”
Production started on the Josh Greenbaum-helmed sequel in September, after Deadline reported that Lewis would join his dad in the movie’s ensemble. Rick Moranis and Daphne Zuniga are also returning, along with the addition of Keke Palmer, Anthony Carrigan and Josh Gad, who is also a co-writer and producer with Brooks on the project.
Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Lorene Yarnell and John Candy in ‘Spaceballs’ (1987) (MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Meanwhile, MGM announced that Brooks will reprise his role as Yogurt, a parody of Star Wars‘ Jedi Master Yoda.
Released by MGM in 1987, the original Spaceballs is an iconic send-up of the sci-fi genre, which took inspiration from the Star Wars franchise and other classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey. The plot revolves around the evil Dark Helmet (Moranis) and President Skroob (Brooks), who attempt to steal the atmosphere of the peaceful planet Druidia, only to be thwarted by the hero Lone Starr (Pullman), his sidekick Barf (John Candy), and the Druish princess Vespa (Zuniga). Others in the cast included Joan Rivers and Dick Van Patten. The film grossed just over $38.1M worldwide but has endured over the years as a cult classic.
