Mel Brooks, 100, Insisted on Filming 'Spaceballs' Sequel Scenes First
The comedy legend prioritized his scenes due to his age, according to co-star Daphne Zuniga.
Mel Brooks, 100, was determined to reprise his role in the upcoming “Spaceballs” sequel, “Spaceballs: The New One,” so much so that he insisted the directors film his scenes first.
Daphne Zuniga, who worked with the comedian on the film and will reprise her role as Princess Vespa, revealed Brooks’s request during a panel at 90s Con. "It was his idea: ‘You better film me now because I’m 100.’ So we did," Zuniga stated.
Brooks, who wrote and directed the original 1987 sci-fi parody, is set to return as the alien character Yogurt. The sequel is scheduled for release on April 23, 2027.
Directed by Josh Greenbaum, “Spaceballs: The New One” will also feature new cast members Keke Palmer, Josh Gad, and Lewis Pullman. Gad, who is a co-writer and producer on the film, praised Brooks’s enduring enthusiasm and talent during a 2024 podcast appearance. "It’s been such a thrill to get to see him literally still on form in every single way," Gad said. "He is so effortlessly funny and so unbelievably brilliant."
In a September 2025 interview with The Times of London, Brooks commented on his age, stating that on some days, he doesn’t even "notice" that he is no longer 37. He also shared his ongoing creative process: “I talk on the phone and I write — every day. Always writing, always correcting, always questioning.”