{"id":958176,"date":"2026-07-25T11:02:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T11:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/958176\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T11:02:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T11:02:28","slug":"rick-moranis-jokes-he-never-retired-in-rare-comic-con-appearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/958176\/","title":{"rendered":"Rick Moranis jokes he never ‘retired’ in rare Comic-Con appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rick Moranis joked about his years-long absence from Hollywood during a San Diego Comic-Con panel for \u201cSpaceballs: The New One\u201d<\/a> Friday.<\/p>\n

In footage from the event, the \u201cGhostbusters\u201d actor joked to audience members<\/a> of his return to mainstream movies, saying, \u201cI really wasn\u2019t retired. I was just negotiating!\u201d<\/p>\n

As audience members laughed, Moranis said of the sequel to the iconic 1987 comedy, \u201cThis came along right at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moranis said he made the decision to join the movie \u2014 which will debut in April 2027 \u2014 after \u201chearing who was going to be in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rick Moranis joked that he never \u201cretired\u201d at San Diego Comic-Con Friday, as seen above. John Salangsang\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

The actor quipped that he had been \u201cjust negotiating.\u201d John Salangsang\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

The \u201cLittle Shop of Horrors\u201d star, 73, noted that Bill Pullman would also be returning for the sequel \u2014 and bringing along his son, Lewis Pullman.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just felt like, \u2018This is it.\u2019 This is\u2026 it\u2019s time,\u201d Moranis gushed.<\/p>\n

Also reprising their roles will be Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga and George Wyner, while Keke Palmer, Josh Gad,\u00a0Anthony Carrigan and Rowan Witt are joining the cast for the first time.<\/p>\n

In social media threads, fans were thrilled to see that Moranis is back to his goofball role, the beloved Lord Dark Helmet, from \u201cSpaceballs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRick is the goat, welcome back \ud83d\ude4c\ud83d\ude4c\ud83d\ude4c,\u201d one person wrote, while another chimed in, \u201cLudicrous speed,\u201d quoting the original film.<\/p>\n

The actor appeared in a panel on Friday alongside the cast of \u201cSpaceballs: The New One,\u201d including newcomers Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman and Josh Gad. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time,\u201d the \u201cGhostbusters\u201d star gushed of his return to the big screen. He\u2019s pictured here with co-star Daphne Zuniga. John Salangsang\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

At one point, he sported his original \u201cSpaceballs\u201d helmet. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cReally happy to see Rick Moranis back on the big screen! Super cool guy and interesting life story,\u201d a fan wrote on X<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Another remarked, \u201cThat\u2019s such a great moment \u2013 a standing ovation like that shows how much love there still is for these characters. Awesome to see him back.\u201d <\/p>\n

One person gushed, \u201cAbsolute legend! One in a million! Huge respect xXx.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were also enthusiastic in real life. Footage from Comic-Con showed fans giving Moranis a standing ovation<\/a> as he made his way through the audience in his oversized Lord Dark Helmet helmet and chanting to him onstage, \u201cRick! Rick! Rick!\u201d<\/p>\n

Moranis, pictured here as his original \u201cSpaceballs\u201d character Lord Dark Helmet, received a standing ovation at the event and, at one point, the crowd shouted, \u201cRick! Rick! Rick!\u201d \u00a9MGM\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n

Moranis\u2019 return to the movies comes nearly 30 years after he quit Hollywood following his wife Ann Belsky\u2019s 1991 death. He\u2019s seen above in \u201cLittle Shop of Horrors.\u201d \u00a9Warner Bros\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n

Moranis\u2019 triumphant return to his \u201cSpaceballs\u201d role \u2014 40 years later \u2014 comes nearly 30 years after he stepped away from Hollywood in 1997 following his wife Anne Belsky\u2019s death from breast cancer.<\/p>\n

The actor stepped away from the limelight to care for daughter Rachel and son Mitchell following their mother\u2019s 1991 death. <\/p>\n

The \u201cHoney, I Shrunk the Kids\u201d actor briefly returned to the big screen for voice acting roles in \u201cBrother Bear\u201d and \u201cBrother Bear 2\u201d in the mid-2000s, but mostly remained out of the spotlight for years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took a break, which turned into a longer break,\u201d he\u00a0told the Hollywood Reporter<\/a>\u00a0back in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have absolutely no regrets whatsoever,\u201d the actor insisted. \u201cMy life is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t