‘Spaceballs’ Star Teases the Return of a Beloved Fan-Favorite Character In The Sequel

It might’ve taken light-years, but the stars have finally aligned and Spaceballs is officially getting a sequel, nearly four decades after the cult classic first hit theaters. Co-written by parody legend Mel Brooks, who’s also returning as the wise and merch-happy Yoghurt, the project is picking up speed under Amazon MGM Studios. This past week brought exciting updates, confirming the return of original stars Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, and Daphne Zuniga. Joining them are Keke Palmer and Josh Gad, brought on to possibly bridge the gap between generations in what promises to be a hilarious mix of old and new. However, there may be more familiar faces back in action, including a possible return of Tim Russ.

Spaceballs featured a star-studded ensemble, and among them was Russ, then best known to sci-fi fans as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager. Russ played one of Dark Helmet’s troopers in a brief but unforgettable moment. During the now-iconic “combing the desert” scene, where Dark Helmet orders the troopers to comb the desert, Russ’s character’s group is up to speed on their master’s request. He’s seen wielding a giant Afro pick, delivering the perfectly timed punchline: “We ain’t found sht!” The absurdity of the visual gag, combined with Russ’s deadpan delivery, turned the scene into a cult-favorite and one of the film’s most quoted moments.

A callback for Russ in the sequel is bound to be one of the movie’s most satisfying Easter eggs, should the writers find a clever way to slip it in. His brief appearance in the original became unexpectedly iconic, and fans would no doubt welcome a reprise of that hilarious moment. Thankfully, Russ is open to a return, although nothing has been officially confirmed regarding his return, Russ has hinted that he’s game. The actor recently hinted at the possibility in a tweet on X where he shared Amazon MGM Studios’ official announcement of the sequel and wrote the words: “I may be…. combing the desert agan..!!“

What Else Do We Know About ‘Spaceballs 2’?

Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet in Spaceballs — Image via MGM/UA Distribution Co.

Several key details about the movie are still under wraps, including the plot and title, but for the latter, it might very well be called Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money, as teased in the final moments of the original movie. While Brooks will return to play Yoghurt, it remains to be seen if he will have a dual role like in the first, where he also portrayed the villain, President Skroob. Thunderbolts* star Lewis Pullman has also been cast in role of Starburst, the son of Lone Starr (played by his real-life father Bill Pullman) and Queen Vespa (Zuniga). Palmer will play a character named Destiny, while details of Gad’s role are yet to be revealed. Gad will equally contribute to the sequel’s script alongside Brooks, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez (Detective Pikachu). Josh Greenbaum will direct.

Spaceballs 2 is slated to arrive in 2027 with a specific release date yet to be set. Stay tuned for future updates.