Spaceballs II: The Search for More Money (Johnsonverse)

Spaceballs II: The Search for More Money is a 2022 American satirical comic science fiction film directed by Mel Brooks, written by Brooks, Tim Johnson and Adam F. Goldberg and produced by Brooks and Goldberg, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. A follow-up to Spaceballs (1987), it stars Brooks, Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, Daphne Zuniga, and George Wyner reprising their roles from the original film, alongside Will Sasso, Vanessa Hudgens, Joey King, Joel Edgerton, Kristen Schaal, Seth MacFarlane, Patton Oswalt, Kelly McCreary, and the voice of Melissa Rivers. In addition to Brooks in a supporting role, this film features Brooks regular Rudy De Luca in a supporting role as well. The title is taken from a scene in the original Spaceballs film in which the character Yogurt teases a sequel with that name. As with the original film, Spaceballs II is a parody of science fiction, mostly the Star Wars sequel trilogy and Star Trek.
The film was first announced in 2015 and production officially commenced in 2018. Brooks had publicly expressed interest in doing a sequel to the original Spaceballs film after the release of The Force Awakens. Principal photography began in November 2020 and ended in August 2021. It premiered at the San Jose Theatre on May 25, 2022, and was released to theaters on June 24, 2022, thirty-five years after the original film's release. It is the first film directed by Brooks since 1995's Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Critics praised it for its story, acting, special effects, action sequences, and references to the first film.
==Synopsis==
Thirty-five years after the original Planet Spaceball's defeat in its attempt to steal the air of Druidia, a young mechanic living on a desert planet teams up with a Druish spy and a pilot to defeat the Spaceballs, with the help of some old friends and her new mentor Yogurt. Meanwhile, the current Planet Spaceball hopes to counter this with Dark Helmet's daughter and new apprentice, who also happens to be his biggest fangirl.
== Cast ==
* Mel Brooks as President Nevlim Skroob and Yogurt
**Years after the events of The Animated Series, Skroob is still the President of Planet Spaceball. He is still bumbling and corrupt. Brooks only voices Yogurt in the film, with a different actor replacing him physically; Brooks' face was CG'd on in post.
* Bill Pullman as Lone Starr
**Lone Starr became the King of Druidia after Roland's death (due to the death of his actor, Dick Van Patten). He is said to be the mentor character to the new heroes.
* Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet
**Helmet is now the father and mentor of his daughter Silver Helmet (he was married briefly and retained custody of his daughter). Despite this, Helmet remains the same geek he was 35 years ago.
* Daphne Zuniga as Queen Vespa
**Vespa became the Queen of Druidia. She is a
*George Wyner as Colonel Sandurz
**Sandurz is still Colonel of Planet Spaceball (Helmet's second-in-command). He mainly provides exposition for the plot.
* Will Sasso as Barf
**Barf is still Lone Starr's companion. The change in actor is explained as Barf getting a skin graft after being burned by a kid playing with Spaceballs: The Flamethrower.
*Chloe Johnson as Dot Matrix; Melissa Rivers as the voice of Dot Matrix
**Dot is still Vespa's robot maid.
* Rino Romano as the voice of Pizza the Hutt Jr.
* Eva Amurri as the voice of Mozzarella the Hutt
* Mira Sorvino as the voice of Pasta the Hutt
* Joe Pantoliano as the voice of Spaghetti the Hutt
* Lacey Chabert as the voice of Beefaroni the Hutt
*Rudy De Luca as Vinnie
**Vinnie is the caporegime of the Hutt family.
*Michael Winslow as Radar Technician
**He is still
* Joan Cusack as TBA
* Jim J. Bullock as Prince Valium
** Valium, after having almost married Vespa,
*Vanessa Hudgens as Silver Helmet
**Tim called the character "fun to write for because it opened up so many possibilities". She is a parody of both Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma.
*Joey King as Red Starr
** Red Starr is Lone Starr and Princess Vespa'a daughter. Johnson called King "a great actress who could gain sympathy from audiences". King's character is a parody of Rey Skywalker.
*Joel Edgerton as Chase "Lightning" Boltz
** Edgerton, who had portrayed Owen Lars in the Star Wars prequels Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, was cast by Tim as he wanted an actor who could "unite the two franchises". His character is a parody of Poe Dameron and Finn Celshun; Edgerton had previously auditioned for the former in The Force Awakens.
*Kristen Schaal as Daisy
** Schaal's character is a parody of Rose Tico from Duel of the Fates.
*Seth MacFarlane as Cutlass
** MacFarlane's character is a parody of Snoke.
*Patton Oswalt as Admiral Billik
** Oswalt's character is a parody of General Hux.
*Kelly McCreary as Captain Viola
** McCreary's character is a parody of Amilyn Holdo from The Last Jedi and Duel of the Fates.
== Development ==
=== Background ===
In 2013, Moranis revealed that a few years after the movie’s release, he and Brooks discussed a sequel titled Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II. However, the two were never able to agree on a deal.
In February 2015, Brooks publicly expressed interest in a sequel. With the release of The Force Awakens later that year, Brooks figured it would be the perfect time to make a second film, though there were obstacles, such as getting the then-retired Rick Moranis to reprise his role as Dark Helmet, as Brooks refused to make the movie without him, and having to sign a deal with Disney to spoof Star Wars a second time, as Brooks sought approval from George Lucas to make the original.
In February 2016, mass numbers of teaser posters for the sequel appeared in New York City. However, this turned out to be a publicity stunt from the artist.
In May 2017, Brooks, while hosting a screening of Young Frankenstein, was asked by an audience member if the sequel would ever come true. He responded that, with the success of The Force Awakens and Rogue One, and new films on the horizon such as The Last Jedi and Fett, the series exploded in popularity again. Brooks also revealed that MGM and Johnson Studios expressed interest in a sequel, further revealing that discussions were in place concerning a third Spaceballs film, which was confirmed for a 2027 release.
=== Official announcement ===
In a joint press conference held on September 1, 2018, Brooks, Johnson, and Goldberg, along with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's COO Chris Brearton, officially announced production on a Spaceballs sequel. Fan response was unanimously positive.
=== Principal photography ===
Principal photography commenced in September 2020, taking place at the MGM lot in Culver City, California. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, precautions were taken on-set. Location shoots took place in Tunisia, Hawaii, and England in mid-2021.
=== Special effects ===
The special effects, as in the original film, are done at Industrial Light & Magic. Much of the effects used consist of models, go-motion, puppetry, animatronics, and pyrotechnics.
=== Music ===
The soundtrack is composed by Hummie Mann, replacing the late John Morris, and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Mann has previously collaborated with Brooks in films such as Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
== Release ==
=== Home media ===
=== Novelization ===
The film's novelization, like the original film, is written by R.L. Stine (under the pen name Jovial Bob Stine) from Brooks, Johnson, and Goldberg's screenplay. It was released on
=== Soundtrack ===
The soundtrack was released on the same day as the movie.
Category:Johnsonverse