Rick Moranis, the beloved actor known for his iconic roles in Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, made a stunning return to the spotlight after nearly nine years away from public events. The 72-year-old star appeared at CinemaCon on April 15, marking his first red carpet appearance since stepping back from Hollywood decades ago.
Moranis was on hand to promote the highly anticipated sequel to the 1987 cult classic Spaceballs, where he will reprise his role as the villainous Dark Helmet. The event also featured original cast members Daphne Zuniga and Bill Pullman, alongside newcomers Lewis Pullman and Josh Gad.
In a pre-recorded video shown during Amazon MGM's CinemaCon presentation, legendary filmmaker Mel Brooks—who wrote, produced, and starred in the original Spaceballs—revealed that the sequel will be titled Spaceballs: The New One rather than the previously rumored Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money. Brooks concluded his message with the franchise's signature line: "I'll see you at the movies, and may the Schwartz be with you."
Moranis's return to film has been long-awaited by fans. The actor largely retreated from the entertainment industry following the death of his wife, Anne Moranis, in 1991, choosing instead to focus on raising their two children. In a 2015 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he reflected on his decision:
"I took a break, which turned into a longer break. But I'm interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest."
He added, "I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful."
On set, Moranis expressed amazement at reuniting with his former co-stars after nearly four decades. In a joint interview with Daphne Zuniga posted to Instagram on April 16, he shared:
"Certainly in the beginning [of filming], when I was in costume and on the set, I would look at Bill or Daphne and go, 'I don't believe this. How is this possible 39 years later?'"
Zuniga, who is returning as Princess Vespa, echoed his sentiment: "I was just like 'How am I so lucky?' It's great to work in this business, and sometimes you do things and they're great or they're alright, but this was like a dream. Just a dream to, at this point in my life, to be able to go play and be silly."
Moranis's last major film role was in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997, making his involvement in the Spaceballs sequel a significant comeback for the actor. The film is directed by Josh Greenbaum and is expected to bring the same comedic parody that made the original a fan favorite.