According to Variety, Mel Brooks' movie Spaceballs, a wacky 1987 sendup of sci-fiers like Star Wars, is being retooled for the small screen via a three-way project involving the producer, MGM TV and little-known German company BFC.

Brooks is partnering with Berliner Film Co., whose principal pitched the idea to the producer some months ago, and with MGM, which owns the rights to the original movie. Idea is to deliver an animated TV series that takes on the latest wave of sci-fi and fantasy icons, including the Star Wars prequels and The Lord of the Rings.

"With all the fantasy stuff out there, there's plenty of grist for our mill," Brooks told Daily Variety, adding the project would be aimed at primetime, either network or cable.

Brooks said he'd be heavily involved with the production of the film version of his Broadway hit "The Producers" until June, at which time he could switch gears and concentrate more fully on Spaceballs. He'll be working with his Producers collaborator Thomas Meehan, who co-wrote the Spaceballs movie, to produce the pilot and supervise the writing of the other episodes.

Brooks will again voice two of the returning characters, President Skroob and Yogurt.

Spaceballs was released June 24th, 1987 and stars Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, Michael Winslow. The film is directed by Mel Brooks.