Latest news with #MelBrooks'
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Spaceballs 2 announced: 5 similar movies you can watch this weekend
It's happening. Spaceballs 2 is officially in development. Mel Brooks is returning, and yes, original cast members are expected to join the intergalactic chaos once again. The original was a hilarious sci-fi spoof that became a cult classic. Now, decades later, fans are finally getting a sequel. Until that hits screens, here are five movies that bring the same irreverent, genre-bending energy. And they're all available to stream this weekend. Quick refresher on Spaceballs Released in 1987, Spaceballs was Mel Brooks' satirical love letter to sci-fi, poking fun at everything from Star Wars to Alien to 2001: A Space Odyssey. It mixed slapstick, absurdity, and fourth-wall-breaking humour into something that still feels fresh today. And with Spaceballs 2 on the horizon, it's a great time to revisit that brand of comedy. Galaxy Quest (1999) Often described as the best Star Trek film that isn't actually Star Trek, Galaxy Quest follows a washed-up cast from a cancelled sci-fi TV show who get mistaken for real space heroes by an alien race. What starts as a clever parody quickly becomes a heartfelt, surprisingly emotional story about fandom, redemption, and embracing your inner nerd. Streaming: Rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) This Douglas Adams adaptation leans hard into quirky British humour and absurdist sci-fi. After Earth is destroyed, a completely average guy finds himself bouncing across galaxies with a depressed robot, a two-headed alien, and a stolen spaceship. It's weird, brilliant, and packed with quotable one-liners about life, the universe, and everything. Streaming: Disney+ (in select regions), or rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Paul (2011) If you loved Spaceballs, you'll appreciate Paul's self-aware sci-fi comedy. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play two geeky Brits on an American road trip who meet a sarcastic, chain-smoking alien voiced by Seth Rogen. Packed with Easter eggs, Paul is both a parody and a love letter to decades of sci-fi fandom. Streaming: Netflix (in select regions), or rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) A Marvel movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, Guardians blends space opera with punchy humour and retro music. Chris Pratt leads a team of outlaws, including a raccoon with a machine gun and a tree who says three words, on a galactic mission to save the universe. It's chaotic, colourful, and unexpectedly sincere. Streaming: Disney+ Free Guy (2021) Set in an open-world video game, Free Guy follows a background character (Ryan Reynolds) who becomes self-aware and decides to take control of his life, and the game itself. It's clever, high-energy, and filled with visual gags and pop culture nods. Like Spaceballs, it pokes fun at a genre while clearly loving it. Streaming: Disney+, or rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV While you wait for Spaceballs 2... Grab popcorn, rewatch Spaceballs, and queue up any of these picks. They're sharp, silly, and perfect for fans of sci-fi with a sense of humour. Until Spaceballs 2 hits hyperspace, there's plenty of comedic cosmic chaos to explore. First Published Date: 13 Jun, 17:59 IST
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Spaceballs 2' is on its way, with Mel Brooks, Bill Pullman, and Rick Moranis reprising their roles
The Schwartz has been awakened! That's right: Writer-director Mel Brooks' cult classic Spaceballs is getting a sequel, 40 years after the sci-fi parody's original release. Jury's still out on whether it will be called Spaceballs 2: The The Search for More Money, as the original film joked. SEE ALSO: The 10 best movies of 2025 (so far), and where to watch them Amazon MGM Studios announced the sequel will be arriving in theaters in 2027, with a video of Brooks himself discussing making more Spaceballs. "After 40 years, we asked, 'What do the fans want?'" Brooks says. "But instead, we're making this movie." The video also sends up just how drastically the franchise landscape has changed since Spaceballs' 1987 release. In an opening title crawl, the video reminds us that there are now three Star Wars trilogies, several spin-off TV shows, and a whole host of other massive franchises, like "36 MCU movies with two different Robert Downey Jr.'s." So where will Spaceballs 2 fit into the world of franchises? Is it a sequel? A prequel? A reboot? According to its log line, it's actually "A Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film." While Spaceballs 2's plot details are currently under wraps, there's still lots to get excited about. Brooks will be reprising the role of Yogurt, Spaceballs' Yoda stand-in who encourages hero Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) to use the Schwartz. According to Deadline, Pullman is also set to return in Spaceballs 2, along with Rick Moranis, who played Spaceballs' villainous Dark Helmet. The role would mark Moranis' return to live-action films after a hiatus of 28 years. (Moranis did do voice work, like Brother Bear, as well as TV work during this time.) On top of the returning Spaceballs cast members, Spaceballs 2 will star Keke Palmer. Josh Gad is also expected to star. Gad wrote the script alongside Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez. Josh Greenbaum (Will & Harper, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) will direct. Spaceballs 2 hits theaters in 2027.
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Embassy staffers' hate-driven killing: Letters to the Editor — May 26, 2025
The Issue: Two Israeli embassy staffers who were shot and killed in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. There's no question that America's Jews are experiencing an unprecedented level of rampant antisemitism ('Home grown terror,' May 23). Attacks in Charlottesville (2017), Pittsburgh (2018), Poway (2019), Jersey City (2019) and Colleyville, Texas (2022) all occurred before Hamas murdered 1,200 Israelis in October 2023, igniting anti-Israel protests across America. The recent murders of Israeli embassy staffers reminded me of Mel Brooks' take on the Inquisition: Antisemitism is here, and it's here to stay. I cannot enter a synagogue, Jewish school or Jewish community center without being greeted by armed guards. It's irrelevant whether a Jew supports Israel, believes that Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza and/or Palestine or doesn't even have an opinion. Every Jew is now fair game. Paul L. Newman Merion Station, Pa. Elias Rodriguez has gained instant notoriety, if not outright stardom, in his killing of two Israeli embassy staffers. He has now become the poster child of antisemites and those seeking Israel's outright destruction worldwide. Raised fists and celebrations are sure to follow, not only among Hamas and its followers but among right- and left-wing extremists both off and on campus within our own beloved country. History continues to repeat itself. And for those who think otherwise, Elias Rodriguez and his ilk will set you straight. S.P. Hersh Lawrence Much will be written and said in the weeks ahead about Rodriguez and his hate for the Jewish people and America. In America, he is innocent until proven guilty. But I believe he should be dealt with on a federal level, and if convicted, be sentenced to death. There is no difference between him and Timothy McVeigh, who was responsible for the death of 168 men and women who perished in a violent explosion that McVeigh made and planted. It, too, was deliberate and premeditated. America must defend itself against these anarchists. Patrick Abbruzzi Staten Island What is going on in America? I see a lovely young Jewish couple gunned down in DC, just because they are Jews. I see deranged hoodlums ruining the Columbia graduation ceremonies and burning their diplomas. I see constant attacks on Jews all over the country. I am starting to feel like I am living in 1933 Germany, rather than 2025 America. Even if the despicable thug who shot the pair is given the death penalty, and even if the misguided jerks who destroyed their diplomas are never hired by anyone, the damage has been done. The only thing I can hope for is that President Trump properly deals with these ugly situations. Warren Goldfein Mount Arlington, NJ Three innocent individuals have now been murdered by two miscreants who thought they were killing for a cause. How much more disillusioned can Luigi Mangione and Elias Rodriguez be? They both believed they did something that needed to be done. The murders won't change anything. But what is going to change is Mangione and Rodruqez's views on maximum security prisons, where they should spend the rest of their lives. Donald Riccio Manchester, Conn. If anyone doubts the barbaric nature of antisemitism, he need look no further than the slaughter of two innocent people in Washington, DC, both devoted to making better relationships between Israelis and the rest of the Middle East. The deranged American murderer, fueled by the incessant drumbeat of hate spewed by students on campuses as well as leftist members of Congress, snuffed out the lives of two beautiful young people. Yaron and Sarah should not have died at the hands of a terrorist. Antisemitism has been around for centuries. When will we find the resolve to finally put an end to this hateful persecution, at least in America? Anthony Bruno Smithtown Want to weigh in on today's stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@ Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
Ottawa Citizen
08-05-2025
- Science
- Ottawa Citizen
Soviet space probe might hit Canada after 53 years of trying to reach Venus
Article content Look up. A Soviet space probe that has been trying to get to Venus for the past 53 years is about to give up and plummet back to Earth any day now. There's no telling where it could land. Article content Article content Kosmos 482, to give the careening craft its official name, was launched from the Soviet Union on March 31, 1972, bound for Venus. Despite the current craze for missions to Mars, Venus was once a popular destination for space probes, although Earth's track record was not stellar. Article content Article content Between 1961 and 1989, 37 attempts were made but only 22 were successful (less than 60 per cent). Failures included the first 11 tries by the Soviet Union, and the first attempt by the United States, which on its second shot in 1962 pulled off the first successful flyby of another world. Article content Article content Of the failed Soviet launches, 11 of them never escaped Earth orbit, and all of those fell back to Earth within a year. Only one — Kosmos 482 — stayed up longer. A lot longer. Article content Or rather, most of it did. The spacecraft broke into several pieces, with the would-be Venusian lander kicked into a high-Earth orbit that would take decades to decay. Two other pieces re-entered the atmosphere and, thanks to their titanium construction, managed to strike Earth without burning up. Article content They landed near Ashburton, a town about 85 kms southwest of Christchurch on New Zealand's south island, where they were dubbed 'space balls,' long before Mel Brooks' satirical science-fiction comedy of the same name. Article content Article content They were regarded as objects of curiosity, until someone pointed out that they might also be radioactive, which led to at least one being 'jailed' briefly for safety's sake. Article content Article content The objects turned out to be harmless — at least, now that they were no longer falling from the sky — and ended up in a local museum after the Soviets denied all knowledge of them. But the threat of radioactivity was not unwarranted. Article content In 1978, a Soviet reconnaissance satellite dubbed Kosmos 954 re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and exploded over northern Canada. Radioactive debris landed in Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and what is now Nunavut, prompting a joint Canada-U.S. team to spend the better part of a year searching a vast area of the Far North in a recovery effort known as Operation Morning Light.
Vancouver Sun
08-05-2025
- Science
- Vancouver Sun
Soviet space probe might hit Canada after 53 years of trying to reach Venus
Look up. A Soviet space probe that has been trying to get to Venus for the past 53 years is about to give up and plummet back to Earth any day now. There's no telling where it could land. Kosmos 482, to give the careening craft its official name, was launched from the Soviet Union on March 31, 1972, bound for Venus. Despite the current craze for missions to Mars, Venus was once a popular destination for space probes, although Earth's track record was not stellar. Between 1961 and 1989, 37 attempts were made but only 22 were successful (less than 60 per cent). Failures included the first 11 tries by the Soviet Union, and the first attempt by the United States, which on its second shot in 1962 pulled off the first successful flyby of another world. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Of the failed Soviet launches, 11 of them never escaped Earth orbit, and all of those fell back to Earth within a year. Only one — Kosmos 482 — stayed up longer. A lot longer. Or rather, most of it did. The spacecraft broke into several pieces, with the would-be Venusian lander kicked into a high-Earth orbit that would take decades to decay. Two other pieces re-entered the atmosphere and, thanks to their titanium construction, managed to strike Earth without burning up. They landed near Ashburton , a town about 85 kms southwest of Christchurch on New Zealand's south island, where they were dubbed 'space balls,' long before Mel Brooks' satirical science-fiction comedy of the same name. They were regarded as objects of curiosity, until someone pointed out that they might also be radioactive, which led to at least one being 'jailed' briefly for safety's sake. The objects turned out to be harmless — at least, now that they were no longer falling from the sky — and ended up in a local museum after the Soviets denied all knowledge of them. But the threat of radioactivity was not unwarranted. In 1978, a Soviet reconnaissance satellite dubbed Kosmos 954 re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and exploded over northern Canada. Radioactive debris landed in Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and what is now Nunavut, prompting a joint Canada-U.S. team to spend the better part of a year searching a vast area of the Far North in a recovery effort known as Operation Morning Light. Canada presented the Soviet Union with a bill for just over $6 million for the cleanup. In 1981, the Soviets paid just $3 million and considered the matter closed. In 2022, the CBC created a podcast to explore this little known episode in Canadian-Soviet relations and space history. Kosmos 482 is not radioactive, but it was designed to plunge through the thick, acrid, hot atmosphere of Venus, so there's a good chance that when its orbit finally decays — possibly within the next few days — at least part of it will reach the ground. Scientists have calculated that it could come down anywhere on the planet between 52 degrees north latitude and 52 degrees south. That (fortunately) encompasses a whole lot of ocean, but much land as well. New Zealand could get another serving of space balls, or the probe could land in Canada — not the Far North, but Newfoundland, the Maritimes and most of the more populated regions of the country are potentially in the path of the debris. (Edmonton is safe, being north of 52 degrees and so — just — is Saskatoon.) It could also land near Venus, Texas . Not to wish any harm on the small town, but that's sort of where it was headed all those years ago. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
