Spaceballs Returns!

40 Years Later the 1987 Classic Star Wars Parody gets a sequel.

Spaceballs is a 1987 American space opera parody film co-written, produced and directed by Mel Brooks. It primarily parodies the original Star Wars trilogy, but also other popular franchises such as Star Trek, Alien, The Wizard of Oz, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, and Transformers. The film stars Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis and Daphne Zuniga, with the supporting cast including Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, Lorene Yarnell, and the voice of Joan Rivers. In addition to Brooks playing a dual role, the film features Brooks regulars Dom DeLuise and Rudy De Luca in cameo appearances.

Today, Amazon MGM Studios announced that Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters; Little Shop of Horrors; Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise), Josh Gad (Frozen; Beauty and the Beast; The Wedding Ringer), Keke Palmer (Nope; One of Them Days), Lewis Pullman (The Testament of Ann Lee; Thunderbolts), Anthony Carrigan (Barry; Superman), George Wyner (A Serious Man; A Million Little Things), Daphne Zuniga (Melrose Place; One Tree Hill), and Bill Pullman (Independence Day; Lost Highway; The Sinner) are set to star in the studio’s new Spaceballs film, alongside previously announced star, Mel Brooks.

Moranis, Zuniga, Bill Pullman, Brooks, and Wyner will reprise their iconic roles in the long-awaited sequel to the 1987 MGM sci-fi parody that warped its way into cult comedy history, while Gad, Palmer, Lewis Pullman, and Carrigan will take on brand-new characters whose identities are being kept tightly under wraps. Production is now underway on the follow-up, which will hyperspace into theaters in 2027.

Check out the first gathering of the original cast, new cast, and core group of people that are a part of the making of this movie, from the official table read:

*Clockwise from the top – Director Josh Greenbaum,*
*Bill Pullman, Keke Palmer, Daphne Zuniga, George Wyner*
*Jeb Brody (Producer), Taylor Stuewe (Associate Producer)*
*Austin Lee (Associate Producer), Benji Samit (Writer), Dan Hernandez (Writer), Adam Merims (Line Producer/EP), Anthony Carrigan*
*Lewis Pullman, Josh Gad, Rick Moranis.*

Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) is directing from a script by writing duo Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez (Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy; TMNT: Mutant Mayhem), and Josh Gad. Plot details are being kept under lock, key, and an industrial-strength Schwartz shield.

Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and Jeb Brody are producing the film, alongside Mel Brooks, Josh Gad, Josh Greenbaum, and Kevin Salter. Adam Merims, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez will executive produce.

The Pickup

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 34min

Action ~ Comedy

Directed by: Tim Story

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer.

They’re Armed But She’s Dangerous

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

The Pickup starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer premiered on Amazon Prime Video last night, Wednesday August 6, 2025. In the action-comedy, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

The Pickup brings together two generations of comedy for an explosive and hilarious partnership that showcases the chemistry between old-school experience and new-wave energy. In addition to Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer, the film features a diverse cast including Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Directed by Tim Story, who’s known for his work on The Blackening, Barbershop and Ride Along, the film blends high-octane action with sharp humor.

THE REVIEW:

I remember a different Eddie Murphy than the one I saw in this movie. It seemed like a watered down version of the explosive comedy rawness of the Eddie I remember, Saturday Night Live, Raw, Beverly Hills Cop. I watched Beverly Hills Cop 4 and I couldn’t hang, couldn’t finish. It was a trip down memory lane that should have happened decades ago, instead it looked more like a sad “where are they now…oh..in the old folks home” story about a bunch of have beens. That’s harsh I know, but it’s true. The same applies here, it seems like Eddie Murphy is trying to regain his stature before he heads into old age obscurity.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Andrew Dice Clay. It was nice to see Andrew but it seems more like a nostalgic trip than an action comedy movie. It almost seemed more like an endless bunch of skits. To quote Randy Jackson, “It was just alright for me dog.” The witty banter between Pete and Eddie seemed forced, like they were reading for a skit. The two thugs working for Keke were kind of corny. Not really believable. And the plot and some of the action was just too over the top, almost too silly to be believable.

We were promised, to quote the studio, ” high-octane action with sharp humor”. The action was more like regular unleaded and the humor for the most part was pretty dull. The partnership between Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson was described as explosive and hilarious;” The Pickup brings together two generations of comedy for an explosive and hilarious partnership that showcases the chemistry between old-school experience and new-wave energy. Nah, it just kinda fell flat. But again, to quote Randy, it was just alright. Worth a watch, sure. A second time….nah.

The Pickup Starring Eddie Murphy Coming to Prime Video on Wednesday August 6, 2025

The Pickup Starring Eddie Murphy Coming to Prime Video on Wednesday August 6, 2025

The Pickup starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer premieres on Amazon Prime Video Wednesday August 6, 2025. In the action-comedy, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

Nope

2022 Universal Pictures

Rated: R

Length: 2 hr 11min

Sci-Fi ~ Thriller

Directed bv: Jordan Peele

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea, and Keith David.

“This dream you’re chasing, where you end up at the top of the mountain, all eyes on you… it’s the dream you never wake up from.”

FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES:

Oscar®-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele reimagines the summer movie with Nope, an expansive pop epic of uncanny science fiction. Following their father’s shocking death, Hollywood animal wrangler OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) begin observing unexplained phenomena on their vast Southern California ranch that leads them down an obsessive rabbit hole as they plot attempts to capture the mystery on camera. Along with a former child star turned family theme park ringmaster (Steven Yeun) who neighbors the siblings, the pair’s efforts to chase the spectacle soon bring terrifying consequences and unimaginable horror. The result is a complex social thriller that unpacks the seeds of violence, risk and opportunism that are inseparable from the romanticized history of the American West … and from show business itself.

Movie Backstories:

The Chimpanzee:

In the beginning of the movie, and later in the movie, there are scenes where a monkey has gone rogue on a sitcom TV set. Balloons released from a box on his birthday rise up and hit the stage lights and pop, sending the primate into a fit of uncontrollable violence. He focuses on the actress playing the mother in the sitcom, and violently attacks her. This scene is based on a real life incident that happened in 2009 in Stamford, Connecticut.

Travis the chimp was raised by Sandra and Jerome Herold after purchasing him at three days old. They raised him as a human, he accompanied them everywhere. He would ride in their vehicles, buckling himself in wearing a baseball t-shirt. He could open doors with keys, dress himself, log onto a computer and look at pictures, turn on TV and use the remote, and even brushed his teeth. But you can’t take the animal out of the animal no matter how much you humanize him.

On February 16, 2009 Travis attacked and mauled Sandra’s friend Charla Nash. Already agitated that day, he lost his mind when he saw Charla holding his favorite Elmo doll in an attempt to get him to come with her back into the house. He savagely ripped into her face and tore off her hands. She survived but has had a face transplant and numerous surgeries. Part of the movie’s message is dealing with our treatment and relationship to animals in captivity. And the creature in the sky is a metaphor for the animals we try to control and humanize.

The Film Industry:

When Oj and Em are introducing themselves to the cast and crew on the Hollywood sound stage, they reference their families proud Black Heritage within the Film Industries History. It was part of Jordan Peele’s intention in this movie to raise awareness of the history and exploitation of Black Actors in The Film Industry’s History. It also alludes to The Film Industry’s exploitation of spectacle over substance and safety.

NOPE:

NOPE is an acronym for Not Of Planet Earth. It is an acronym that has been used to describe the UFO Phenomenon. It is also a reference to an Eddie Murphy bit where he talks about the difference between White people and Black people in a Horror Movie. The White people are gonna say, “Well, let’s go take a look and investigate that mysterious phenomenon.” Whereas according to Eddie Murphy, Black people are going to say ‘”NOPE! Not Me!” and run the other way. I’m with the latter group as Daniel Kaluuya says twice in the movie given the choice to investigate further……NOPE!

COWBOYS AND ALIENS:

Reminds me of the 2011 Movie starring Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde. They both are Western Sc-Fi’s with Cowboys and Aliens and that’s where the similarity ends but I loved that movie!

The Review:

I enjoyed every minute of this movie. It does what movies are supposed to do. It makes you squeamish, it thrills you, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, it makes you question things. It is a cinematic experience and journey unlike any other. I am not real familiar with Jordan Peele, although I do remember watching Get Out. I am going to have to watch his other two movies now after thoroughly enjoying this. I really like Daniel Kaluuya in this and I am a sucker for out of this world entertainment!

Highly Recommended.

Two Thumbs Up.