<\/p>\n
Rick Moranis scored a standing ovation at the Comic-Con panel for the Spaceballs<\/em> sequel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The beloved actor stepped out from the crowd in his character\u2019s helmet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Moranis declared that it was \u201ctime\u201d for him to return to acting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Bow down to Lord Dark Helmet.<\/p>\n At Friday\u2019s Comic-Con panel for Spaceballs: The New One<\/em>, original star Rick Moranis<\/a>, who is returning to the big screen for the first time in 30 years, earned a standing ovation and chants of \u201cRick\u201d as he emerged from the crowd.<\/p>\n The Spaceballs 2<\/em> event was already underway when moderator Kevin Smith<\/a> and fellow cast members like Lewis Pullman, Josh Gad<\/a>, and Keke Palmer<\/a> were on the stage and looking for Moranis. He eventually arrived in his character\u2019s iconic oversized Darth Vader-esque helmet, and those in attendance went wild as he joined his costars.<\/p>\n Rick Moranis in \u2018Spaceballs\u2019Credit: MGM\/courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks<\/a>, 1987\u2019s Spaceballs<\/em> served as a parody of the initial three Star Wars<\/em><\/a> films. Moranis memorably played Lord Dark Helmet, the undersized Spaceballs enforcer.<\/p>\n Spaceballs: The New One<\/em> is a comeback for Moranis, a beloved figure throughout the \u201880s and \u201890s. The actor\u2019s last live-action film role was 1997\u2019s Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves<\/em>, the third installment in his family franchise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just felt like this is it, it\u2019s time,\u201d Moranis said at the panel. \u201cI said yes, and it is the best decision I\u2019ve ever made.\u201d<\/p>\n Moranis stepped back from screen acting after his wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, died from breast cancer in 1991. \u201cI was working with really interesting people, wonderful people,\u201d he told <\/a>THR<\/em><\/a> in 2015. \u201cI went from that to being at home with a couple of little kids, which is a very different lifestyle. But it was important to me. I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with\u00a0our\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Brooks appeared via video at the panel, with the 100-year-old legend serving as a producer and actor on the sequel.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is very good writing,\u201d Brooks said of the script from Gad, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit. \u201cAnd you could have used my help but you didn\u2019t need it. It was easy, it was fun, and God bless you all.\u201d<\/p>\n Spaceballs: The New One<\/em> hits theaters on April 23, 2027.<\/p>\n Check out more of EW\u2019s coverage from\u00a0<\/strong>San Diego Comic-Con 2026<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n