How Josh Gad’s Daughter Inspired the ‘Spaceballs’ Sequel

A “Spaceballs” sequel, “Spaceballs: The New One,” is coming in 2027 — and turns out, we have Josh Gad’s daughter to thank for it.

“Three years ago, I showed my daughter the oeuvre of Mel Brooks,” Gad said on a September 2025 appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” After Gad and (I’m assuming) his eldest daughter Ava, now 15, finished watching “Spaceballs,” Ava, who was about 11 at the time, asked if they could watch the second one.

Gad was befuddled about why his daughter was asking about a non-existent movie. His daughter responded with the reference that Brooks’ (very Jewish coded) character Yogurt says at the end of the film: “God willing, we will see you again in ‘Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money.'”

Gad had to break the news to his kiddo that the second movie simply didn’t exist. But that night, it came to him in a dream, fully formed — how very biblical Joseph of him!

And then — because as he told Meyers, “I’m just a jackass who just picks up the phone and calls Mel Brooks” — he did just that, calling the famous Jewish comedian and director (and now 99-year-old man!) to get his blessing for the script. When he finished pitching, Brooks told Gad that he had been dreaming of that very moment for 35 years. (I’m not crying, you’re crying!)

At the time of the interview, Gad was sworn to secrecy about the project, but he told the audience: “If you are a fan of ‘Spaceballs,’ you are going to love ‘Spaceballs 2.'”

We now know a little bit more about this ‘Spaceballs’ sequel, which yes, has finished shooting, but will only be out on April 23, 2027.

There are two Jewish Joshes behind this film: Gad and director Josh Greenbaum (“Strays,” “Will & Harper”), who Gad says was the perfect director for the movie because he’s “so funny, but he’s got pathos.”

The inspiration for the idea was the question “why do we look back on things,” Gad shared at CinemaCon, which feels very Jewish. It’s also a commentary on both the current state of cinema and on the Star Wars franchise, which the original 1987 ‘Spaceballs’ was a response to.

We know that Brooks will be reprising the role of Yogurt, and of President Skroob. Daphne Zuniga will now be the first Druish Queen Vespa (the late Joan Rivers will heartbreakingly not be reprising the role of robot Dot Matrix). Rick Moranis is also reprising his role as Lord Dark Helmet (“ultimately, I said yes to this because it was the only way I could get Josh Gad to stop texting me,” he said) and George Wyner is reprising his role as Colonel Sandurz.

Bill Pullman is not only reprising his role as Lone Starr, (dayenu!) but Pullman’s son, Jewish actor Lewis Pullman, will be starring in the movie alongside his father as Starr and Vespa’s son Starburst in a very outer space l’dor v’dor.

New cast members include Keke Palmer, Brian Grazer, Anthony Carrigan, Rowan Witt and of course, Josh Gad, who appears to be taking on the late John Candy’s Barf.

In a teaser for the movie, Brooks says that the film will not be titled “The Search for More Money,” because, well, he found the money in his basement! Instead, he says that because people kept asking him, “when are you gonna make the new ‘Spaceballs,’ when are you going to make the new one?” the movie is titled “The New One” because “it’s just like the old one but it’s newer, that’s why it’s called the new one.”

“May the Schwartz be with you,” he says at the end.

I can’t wait for the return of the Schwartz, and am so grateful that Josh Gad and his daughter’s Mel Brooks movie marathon made it happen!