Key Points
Lewis Pullman admits he was initially hesitant to star in Spaceballs: The New One opposite his father, Bill Pullman.
But after reading the script, he realized, “I would be a fool” to pass it up, he revealed at Comic-Con.
“To get to make a movie with your dad… I don’t have the words for it,” added Lewis.
Bill Pullman is returning to a galaxy “very, very, very, very far away” for the Spaceballs sequel, reprising the role of Prince Lone Starr alongside his real-life heir apparent.
Lewis Pullman, the actor’s eldest son, talked about his casting as Prince Starburst, the son of Lone Starr and Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga), at Comic-Con on Friday, revealing he was initially hesitant about appearing in the sequel of his father’s famous 1987 comedy.
“When this came along, I was like, ‘No, no way… I can’t,’” Lewis recalled during the Spaceballs: The New One panel. “And then Pop was like, ‘Why don’t we read [the script]?’ And then I read it and was like, ‘Damn it. This is so good.’”
John Candy, Lorene Yarnell, Daphne Zuniga, and Bill Pullman in ‘Spaceballs’ (1987)Credit: MGM/Courtesy Everett
The elder Pullman, who wasn’t present for Comic-Con, but did appear via video message, didn’t pressure his son into accepting the role.
“He didn’t want to make me make the decision,” Lewis said, “and I didn’t want to step into his shoes.”
Ultimately, the sequel’s narrative — “one of the funniest scripts I’ve ever read” — was just too good to pass up.
“I looked at the team, and I was like, ‘I would be a fool. It would be weird if I didn’t do it,’” Lewis recalled. “And I would be on my deathbed and be like, ‘That was a weird choice.’”
In addition to Lewis, the new faces in Spaceballs: The New One include Keke Palmer as Starburst’s advisor, Destiny, and Josh Gad as a “Mawg,” the same species of Barf, the half-man half-dog portrayed by John Candy in the original.
Prior to Spaceballs: The New One, the father and son had hoped to share the screen together, albeit ideally in a “really gritty drama.” But they quickly realized the space opera sequel that’s also bringing back Rick Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet and Mel Brooks as President Skroob/Yogurt, “is maybe better than anything we could have ever done,” Lewis admitted.
Lewis Pullman in ‘Thunderbolts*’ as Robert Reynolds (a.k.a. ‘Sentry’)Credit: Marvel
“To do something with your family, my dad always says it is everything,” continued the actor, who got his big break in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and who returns to his role as Sentry from Marvel’s Thunderbolts (2025) in this December’s Avengers: Doomsday. “To get to make a movie with your dad, there’s — I can’t. I don’t have the words for it.”
His father had plenty to say about “family” though, and sent a letter to the Comic-Con panel, which Lewis read aloud — only to realize he wasn’t mentioned.
“Family is everything,” Bill wrote. “When I say ‘family’ I use the term loosely to describe Rick, George, and Daphne, who have been like family to me since 1987. But then there’s new family like Keke, Dan [Hernandez, screenwriter], Benji, [director] Josh Greenbaum… and my son from the 2012 NBC series 1600 Penn, Josh Gad.”
As he continued reading, the audience laughed as Lewis learned the joke was on him.
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“And finally, there’s real family: Josh Gadd’s father Stan who came and visited us on set. He and Josh were beautiful together,” wrote Bill, who went on to praise Lewis’ hair and makeup team as well as his agent, “who sent me the most beautiful gift, a candle that smells like 16th century Scotland.”
Lewis did get a shoutout from dear old dad, eventually: “Lewis, don’t forget to pay mom back for the cellphone bill we covered in Australia.”
Spaceballs: The New One hits theaters on April 23, 2027.
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