In a comeback that many longtime fans never thought they’d see, beloved actor Rick Moranis is returning to the screen nearly three decades after stepping away from Hollywood.
And yes, he’s coming back in one of his most iconic roles—with the giant black helmet and all.
A Quiet Exit That Lasted Years
Moranis, now 72, quietly left acting in the late 1990s, not because he fell out of love with the business, but because he had more important things to focus on: his family.
After the heartbreaking loss of his wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, to breast cancer in 1991, he chose to step away and become a full-time single father to their two kids, Rachel and Mitchell.
Spaceballs Sequel Brings Him Out of Retirement
On Thursday, comedy legend Mel Brooks announced that Moranis will reprise his hilarious role as Dark Helmet in a sequel to the 1987 cult-classic Spaceballs.
It’s a move that has fans buzzing—especially since Moranis has been so selective about returning to the spotlight.
Familiar Faces and Fresh Talent Join the Cast
The upcoming sequel won’t just star Moranis. He’ll be joined by his original Spaceballs co-star Bill Pullman, who played Lone Starr, and Keke Palmer, who’s set to bring some fresh energy to the new project, according to a report from Deadline.
The Last Time We Saw Him On-Screen
Moranis’ last on-camera appearance was in 1997’s Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, the straight-to-video third installment in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids series.
Though he disappeared from film sets, he never officially retired.
In a 2015 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said he was open to returning if the right project came along.
“I took a break, which turned into a longer break,” he said at the time. “But if something interesting came up, I’d consider it.”
Why He Turned Down the Ghostbusters Reboot
Despite being a Ghostbusters fan favorite, Moranis famously declined a cameo in the 2016 reboot that reunited some of his former co-stars.
His reason? He just didn’t see the point of popping in for a day to relive something he did 30 years earlier. “I wish them well,” he said at the time.
“I hope it’s terrific. But it just makes no sense to me.”
A Comedy Legend With a Cult Following
While best known for Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Ghostbusters, Moranis’ resume is stacked with classics: Little Shop of Horrors, Parenthood, Strange Brew, and of course, his hilarious role as Barney Rubble in The Flintstones movie alongside John Goodman.
He made his mark playing nerdy, lovable underdogs—and audiences adored him for it.
Voice Work Kept Him in the Game
Even though he stayed off camera, Moranis kept his foot in the entertainment world through voice acting.
He lent his voice to the animated film Brother Bear in 2003 and to The Animated Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie, among others.
He Was Set to Return with “Shrunk”—But Then COVID Hit
Moranis was actually already on track for a return before the Spaceballs sequel was announced.
Back in 2020, Disney revealed he would reprise his role as Wayne Szalinski in a fourth Honey, I Shrunk the Kids film titled Shrunk, alongside Josh Gad, who was set to play Wayne’s grown-up son.
Original director Joe Johnston was also on board.
Unfortunately, production stalled due to the pandemic, and Disney’s shifting focus away from long-form streaming content pushed the project to the back burner.
A Bittersweet but Triumphant Return
For fans who’ve been waiting decades to see Rick Moranis on screen again, his return is more than just a cameo—it’s a full-circle moment.
After giving everything to his kids and living a quiet life, Moranis is stepping back into a role that helped define his career.
And for anyone wondering if he’s still got it? If anyone can bring the laughs back to the galaxy, it’s Dark Helmet.