Rick Moranis ends retirement with surprise Comic-Con appearance for ‘Spaceballs 2’

MoviesRick Moranis ends retirement with surprise Comic-Con appearance for ‘Spaceballs 2’Moranis received a massive standing ovation at Comic-Con after surprising the crowd in his iconic Dark Helmet gear.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Getty Images North AmericaShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 25, 2026, 1:22 PM EDTBy Kimmy Yam, TODAYLord Dark Helmet is so back!Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.During a panel for the upcoming sequel to the 1987 “Star Wars” parody film “Spaceballs” at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, Rick Moranis, who played the hilarious spoof on Darth Vader, made a special appearance.The 73-year-old, who is reprising his role for the sequel, donned his iconic enormous helmet from the original film and walked through the packed house at Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center.The crowd couldn’t help but give Moranis, who stepped back from appearing in films almost three decades ago, a standing ovation.The sequel, entitled “Spaceballs: The New One,” is slated to hit theaters on April 23, 2027. The project was championed by several comedians and actors including Josh Gad. It will feature some familiar faces, like the original film’s director Mel Brooks, who is not only a producer on the sequel but also reprising his role as the beloved Yoda parody character Yogurt.Moranis’ entrance was certainly a theatrical one. The actor did not begin the event with the rest of the panel. Rather, he surprised the crowd by popping up in the audience after being hidden under the helmet. The crowd, understandably, went wild.Moranis, who then joined the panel, told fans about his decision to reenter the industry with the upcoming film.“It just felt like this is it. It’s time,” he told the crowd. “I said yes, and it is the best decision I’ve ever made.”The actor, whose reprisal of the beloved villain role was announced last year, also joked that he had never really left. He said that he had...