MUMBAI: MGM's latest plan for television involves adapting the Mel Brooks comedy classic Spaceballs.
MGM Domestic Television Distribution has teamed up with the German based Berliner Film Companie (BFC) for this purpose.
The television series will be animated. The 1987 film Spaceballs focussed on Planet Spaceball's President Scroob, who sends Lord Dark Helmet to steal Planet Druidia's abundant supply of air to replenish that of his own planet. Only the hero, Lone Star, can stop the evil plan.
Under the agreement, BFC and MGM will produce an hour-long pilot and 13 half-hour episodes. Additionally, MGM will distribute the series in the US, Canada and other countries with the exception of Germany.
Brooks and Thomas Meehan, who had written the film's screenplay, will write the series pilot. They will also supervise writing on the rest of the series. Brooks and Soehnlein will serve as executive producers and Brooks will provide the voice of two main characters- President Scroob and Yogurt.
MGM executive VP television distribution, North America Jim Packer said, "Primetime animation has become a powerful staple. With the unmatched comedic talents of Mel Brooks and BFC's expertise, you've got quite a winning combination. To this day, Spaceballs is incredibly successful on television and in video, and with the abundance of Sci-fi films that have come out in the past decade, there's no shortage of material for Mel."