Josh Gad Gives Update on Spaceballs 2, Which Is ‘Very Much a Sequel’ to 1987 Original: ‘The Wait Is Gonna Be Worth It’

Josh Gad says the Spaceballs sequel will be well worth the decades-long wait.

The In Gad We Trust author, 43, appeared on the Jan. 16 episode of Sirius XM’s The Spotlight with Jessica Shaw, where he spoke with host Jessica Shaw about his new memoir and future projects, including Mel Brooks’ long-awaited Spaceballs 2.

Gad, who serves as a star, coproducer and cowriter on the project, explained to Shaw that production is currently “getting the budget together” and “going out to cast.” He then quickly confessed, “That’s the first time I’ve ever said that. I hope I don’t get in trouble for it. Please forgive me, Amazon.”

“We are very much in the weeds, hoping to shoot by the end of the year,” the actor continued.

Gad, a self-proclaimed “diehard” Spaceballs fan, then detailed, “This is very much a sequel,” adding: “This is very much a continuation of that movie, and, more than that, it’s a celebration of all things Mel Brooks.” 

According to Gad, he, director Josh Greenbaum and cowriters Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit “didn’t just go back and watch Spaceballs a thousand times” when plotting Spaceballs 2.

Instead, he explained that the group revisited Brooks’ oeuvre and also watched Blazing Saddles, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Robin Hood: Men In Tights, and High Anxiety “again and again and again.”

“This is in many ways a lost art, and we don’t want to approximate it,” Gad said.

The Frozen star also said that “getting to work on a daily basis hand in hand with Mel Brooks and his producing partner, Kevin Salter, has been such a dream.”

“I wish I could tell you more. I wish I could tell you who may be coming back,” he continued. “I can say the wait is gonna be worth it. Watch this space.”

Spaceballs stars Brooks, 98, Bill Pullman, Joan Rivers, John Candy, Daphne Zuniga and Rick Moranis. The film has become a cult classic, celebrated for its sharp wit and satirical take on the space opera genre.

The sequel was first announced in June 2024. Shortly after, in September 2024, Gad said during an interview with Kelly Ripa that it was “incredible” to collaborate with Brooks.

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Spaceballs is available to stream on AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video.