Rick Moranis ends retirement with surprise Comic-Con appearance for ‘Spaceballs 2’

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During a panel for the upcoming sequel to the 1987 “Star Wars” parody film “Spaceballs” at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, Rick Moranis, who played the hilarious spoof on Darth Vader, made a special appearance.

The 73-year-old, who is reprising his role for the sequel, donned his iconic enormous helmet from the original film and walked through the packed house at Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center.

The crowd couldn’t help but give Moranis, who stepped back from appearing in films almost three decades ago, a standing ovation.

The sequel, entitled “Spaceballs: The New One,” is slated to hit theaters on April 23, 2027. The project was championed by several comedians and actors including Josh Gad. It will feature some familiar faces, like the original film’s director Mel Brooks, who is not only a producer on the sequel but also reprising his role as the beloved Yoda parody character Yogurt.

Moranis’ entrance was certainly a theatrical one. The actor did not begin the event with the rest of the panel. Rather, he surprised the crowd by popping up in the audience after being hidden under the helmet. The crowd, understandably, went wild.

Moranis, who then joined the panel, told fans about his decision to reenter the industry with the upcoming film.

“It just felt like this is it. It’s time,” he told the crowd. “I said yes, and it is the best decision I’ve ever made.”

The actor, whose reprisal of the beloved villain role was announced last year, also joked that he had never really left. He said that he had discussed the idea of a sequel way back in 1989.

“I wasn’t really retired,” he joked . “I was just negotiating.”

The panel was filled with several other noteworthy moments, including a parody of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the universe of Marvel superhero films that are typically released in “phases.”

For this event, the panel unveiled the “Spaceballs Cinematic Universe.” The MCU spoof included upwards of 11 phases including “The Almighty Schwartz Saga.” (IYKYK!)

Though Mel Brooks, who recently turned 100 , did not attend the event, he sent along a hilarious video message.

“Sorry I can’t be with you. I’m on the convention floor trying to buy a rare Charizard card. When I was your age, on a Friday, I would go to something called ‘work,’” he said in the video, according to Deadline. “From the bottom of my heart I want to say, thank you, nerds.”