Lewis Pullman Says Making ‘Spaceballs 2’ Was a Sci-Fi Comedy Dream Come True
Lewis Pullman Wraps ‘Spaceballs 2’ and Calls It a “Dream Come True”
Lewis Pullman has officially wrapped production on the long-awaited sequel Spaceballs 2, and he’s describing the experience in appropriately cosmic terms. In a new interview with People, the Thunderbolts* star called working on the follow-up to Mel Brooks’ 1987 cult classic “a dream come true,” signaling that this long-rumored space spoof is finally, actually happening.
Why a ‘Spaceballs’ Sequel Matters in 2025
The original Spaceballs, released in 1987 and directed by Mel Brooks, spoofed the sci-fi boom of the era—Star Wars, Star Trek, and even Alien. Over time it evolved from a modest box office performer into a home-video staple and, eventually, a meme-era favorite. Lines like “May the Schwartz be with you” and the film’s fourth-wall-breaking gags still circulate online decades later.
A sequel now lands in a completely different landscape. Contemporary audiences are living through peak franchise saturation: multiple Star Wars shows, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Snyderverse discourse, and an endless churn of reboots. Few properties are better positioned than Spaceballs to poke fun at that entire ecosystem.
Lewis Pullman on Making a “Cosmic” Comedy
While details of the plot are still under wraps, Pullman’s comments to People lean into the sense of childhood wish-fulfillment that comes with inheriting a beloved sci-fi parody.
“It was a dream come true,” Pullman said, describing the experience of stepping into the Spaceballs universe as something he’d imagined since he was a kid watching the original on repeat.
That kind of language is standard-issue in press tours, but in this case it lands a bit differently. Pullman grew up around genre cinema—his father, Bill Pullman, co-led 90s sci-fi classic Independence Day—so the idea of him headlining a meta-sci-fi comedy feels almost like Hollywood symmetry.
Spoof Cinema in the Age of the MCU and Streaming Wars
The original Spaceballs thrived because it parodied a relatively small set of cultural touchstones. In 2025, the targets are more diffuse: Disney-era Star Wars, Marvel’s multiverse saga, prestige space shows like The Expanse, and even the corporate streaming battles that determine where these stories live.
That raises a key creative challenge for Spaceballs 2: how do you lampoon everything without turning the film into an overstuffed reference reel? Modern spoof movies have a mixed track record—many 2000s parody films aged badly because they confused “recognition” for actual punchlines. The hope with a legacy property like Spaceballs is that it will lean more on character-based comedy and absurdity than on pointing at IP and calling it a joke.
- Opportunity: A deep bench of franchises to parody—Marvel, Star Wars, Dune, Star Trek, and beyond.
- Risk: Over-reliance on cameos and Easter eggs instead of narrative and timing.
- Sweet spot: Using recognizable tropes (like multiverses and legacy sequels) as setups for original, character-driven gags.
From ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ to ‘Thunderbolts*’: Why Pullman Is an Interesting Choice
Lewis Pullman has been quietly building a genre-friendly résumé. Audiences know him from Top Gun: Maverick, the eerie Stephen King adaptation Bad Times at the El Royale, and the superhero ensemble Thunderbolts*. That mix of earnestness and low-key oddball energy makes him a smart fit for a Spaceballs lead.
If the sequel mirrors the original’s formula, Pullman will likely be playing the “straight man” around whom all the absurdity orbits—similar to how Bill Pullman (no relation to Mel Brooks’ universe, of course) played Lone Starr with just enough sincerity to make the jokes land harder.
Balancing Nostalgia and New Jokes
Any legacy sequel walks a tightrope between fan service and forward momentum. For Spaceballs 2, that balance is especially delicate. The original is soaked in 80s sensibilities, from VHS humor to merchandising jokes that anticipated today’s IP machine.
Modern comedy also lives in a different cultural climate. Some gags from 80s comedies don’t translate cleanly to 2025, which means the new film will have to update the tone without sanding off the anarchic edge that made Mel Brooks’ work memorable.
- Expect more jokes about streaming, algorithms, and franchise fatigue.
- Visual effects will almost certainly be bigger—but the charm will depend on practical-style goofiness and timing.
- The most effective humor will likely come from skewering “cinematic universes” and endless spin-offs.
Can ‘Spaceballs 2’ Stick the Landing?
Without a trailer or full plot synopsis, all we really have for now is Pullman’s enthusiasm and the long cultural shadow of the original. That said, legacy comedies have quietly been on an upswing when they tap into genuine affection rather than simple brand exploitation.
The key test will be whether Spaceballs 2 feels like a real movie, not just a stitched-together reel of “Remember this?” moments. Pullman’s “dream come true” framing suggests a cast that understands the weight of that responsibility—and is having fun shouldering it.
Until the first footage drops, the best-case scenario is a smart, lovingly chaotic sci-fi comedy that roasts the franchise era from the inside. At worst, it’s another nostalgia play. For fans who’ve been quoting “They’ve gone to plaid!” since the VHS days, the simple fact that cameras rolled and wrapped on Spaceballs 2 already feels a little bit like wish-fulfillment.
Further Reading and Official Sources
For more on the film’s development and Lewis Pullman’s comments, check out:
- Deadline coverage of Lewis Pullman on Spaceballs 2 (source of the original interview summary)
- People.com – for Pullman’s full “dream come true” interview
- Spaceballs (1987) – IMDb
