Rick Moranis returned to the screen as Dark Helmet on Wednesday, appearing in first footage from Spaceballs 2 at CinemaCon 2026. The sequel to Mel Brooks' 1987 sci-fi parody is now titled Spaceballs: The New One and is set to reach theaters on April 23, 2027.
Moranis joined Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Lewis Pullman and Josh Gad on stage during Amazon MGM's presentation to promote the film. In the trailer, Dark Helmet keeps his mask on for most of the rapid-fire footage, but the final gag makes the comeback unmistakable: Moranis stands at a urinal as a massive Na'vi from Avatar takes the taller one beside him, prompting him to say, “I see you” in Na'vi before putting on 3D glasses and staring at the alien's groin.
The footage matters because it marks Moranis's first live-action movie performance in 30 years. His last live-action theatrical role came in Big Bully in 1996, and his last live-action movie performance before this sequel was Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997. He had mostly stayed away from screen acting after his wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, died from breast cancer in 1991, though he later voiced characters in Brother Bear and its sequel, briefly returned as Bob McKenzie for a 2007 TV special, voiced Dark Helmet in a 2018 episode of The Goldbergs and appeared in a 2020 Mint Mobile commercial opposite Ryan Reynolds.
Josh Gad co-wrote and produced Spaceballs 2 with Brian Grazer, Mel Brooks and director Josh Greenbaum. With Moranis back in costume and Brooks confirming the title in a pre-recorded video, the sequel is no longer just a long-rumored follow-up; it has a release date, a trailer and the return of the actor who made Dark Helmet one of Brooks' most recognizable comic creations.
