The actor also addressed “rumors” about whether he will play Barf, Candy’s role in the original parody movie, in the forthcoming sequel
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NEED TO KNOW
- Josh Gad called Spaceballs: The New One as “a love letter” to original star John Candy at SDCC on July 24
- Gad also addressed speculation over whether he will take over Candy’s role in the original movie as Barf
- Original stars Mel Brooks, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga will star in the sequel, along with several newcomers
The cast of Spaceballs: The New One is staying tight-lipped about the sequel, but one thing is for sure: The film is “a love letter” to original star John Candy.
On Friday, July 24, the stars and minds behind the forthcoming sequel to Mel Brooks‘ 1987 Star Wars spoof gathered for a panel at San Diego Comic-Con’s famous Hall H, where Josh Gad revealed that late actor Candy is the “beating heart” of the movie.
“We’re not being coy today. When we say we can’t tell you much, it’s because we want to protect a lot of the surprises of this movie,” Gad, 45, said at the Spaceballs: The New One presentation alongside costars Rick Moranis, Lewis Pullman, Daphne Zuniga and Keke Palmer, as well as director Josh Greenbaum and screenwriters Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez.
“So let me start by saying this. I am sitting next to one of the four people on my comedy Mount Rushmore,” the Frozen actor continued, referring to another original Spaceballs star, Moranis, 73. He then added that “another gentleman named John Candy” is also part of the metaphorical monument to his comedy idols.
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Gad went on to say at the Kevin Smith-moderated panel that “part of the conceit of this movie was I wanted it to be a love letter to John,” who he described as “one of my biggest idols.”
He also said that while he cannot share many details, he does want to “put rumors to rest” regarding whether he will step into the shoes of Barf, a spoof of Star Wars’ Chewbacca played by Candy in the original ‘80s comedy.
“I am not playing Barf in this movie,” Gad told fans at the SDCC panel. “That is a role that is singularly played and will [only] ever be played by one person. And what I can’t tell you is who I’m playing, I can reveal today that I am playing a new mom in our family. So that’s all I can really say.”
The Pixels actor went on to say that “in every way, shape and form,” original Spaceballs star Candy “is at the beating heart, I think, of this film.” He added that the John Candy: I Like Me subject, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at age 43, is also “a part of the reason why I think the movie ultimately has so much heart.”
“I hope you guys will agree when you see it,” Gad concluded. “So that’s what I can say for now.”
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Spaceballs is primarily a parody of the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as other popular science fiction movies from the late 20th century. Gad first announced that he was working on a sequel with Brooks — who co-wrote, directed and starred in the original film — back in 2024.
Brooks, 100, will reprise his role as Yogurt, the Yoda parody character, in the film. Original Spaceballs stars Bill Pullman and Moranis will also return for the sequel, per Deadline, and Zuniga will once again play Princess Vespa, per The Wrap. Newcomers to the Spaceballs world include Palmer, 32, and Pullman’s son Lewis Pullman, 33.
While Brooks did not appear in person at Friday’s SDCC panel, he did kick off the presentation by appearing via a video message. Bill, 72, also filmed a video to share with the audience.
Another memorable moment came as Moranis got a standing ovation from the crowd as he stepped onstage wearing his character Dark Helmet’s humorously large black hat after the rest of the panel members had already arrived.
Spaceballs: The New One is in theaters April 23, 2027.
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