Rick Moranis made a rare public return to Hollywood by reprising his role as Dark Helmet in the sequel to the 1987 cult comedy Spaceballs.
The announcement was made at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 24, 2026.
>>> Ukraine Strikes Russian Ports and Fuel Depots in Major Drone Attack
The 73-year-old actor received a standing ovation from fans at the event's Hall H as he joined the panel promoting Spaceballs: The New One, scheduled for release in April 2027.
Moranis hid under the oversized Dark Helmet costume when first announced, and described the timing of the project as perfect.
"This came along at the right time," Moranis said. "It just felt like this is it.
… It is the best decision I ever made. It’s like family to me."
Cast and Reactions
The panel included original cast members Daphne Zuniga and director Josh Greenbaum, along with new cast members such as Keke Palmer and Lewis Pullman.
Pullman noted his initial hesitation to join but praised the script's humor.
"I read it and I was like, ‘Damn it. This is so good.
… This is one of the funniest scripts I’ve ever read,’" Pullman said. "I would be a fool.
It would be weird if I didn’t do it."
>>> Feyenoord Finalizes Leo Sauer Transfer to VfB Stuttgart
Palmer expressed excitement about the script, saying, "It was so funny that I kept being like, ‘Oh my God!
Can you believe they said that?’"
Moranis joked with the audience that he was not truly retired but "just negotiating" during his nearly 30-year break from mainstream films, which began after his wife’s death in 1991.
