Fans of Mel Brooks just got some great news. His 1981 irreverent screwball look at world history, History of the World Part I finally delivers on its tag’s promise, thanks to Hulu. The streamer has ordered a History of the World, Part II series, forty years after the original was in theaters. Variety exclusively broke the news of the sequel series.
The original film loosely followed the story of humankind through several important moments in human history, beginning with the dawn of man, through the height of Rome and the birth of Christianity, to the French Revolution.
Part II will be a variety series, filled with comedy and music, much like the film that inspired it. Many of Brooks’ films featured big movie musical moments. Lili Von Shtupp (Madeline Kahn) belts out “I’m Tired” to a crowd of rowdy cowboys in 1974’s western sendup film Blazing Saddles. Young Frankenstein, Brooks’ homage to the 1930s Universal Monster movies, featured the good Doctor (Gene Wilder) and his creation (Peter Boyle) dressing up to the nines and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” Of course, Young Frankenstein and The Producers were both turned into Broadway musicals. History of the World Part I features one of his most creative numbers, “The Spanish Inquisition.” If you somehow never have seen it, check it out here.
Many of Mel Brooks’ films took an unflinching approach to comedy, finding humor in places and ways that were also thought-provoking. He often used race and religion as the basis for his humor. And he always showed how ridiculous and wrong those who held those opinions were. But in today’s artistic and political climate, he would find it impossible to make many of his most famous films to date. In 2017, Brooks told the BBC in an interview that political correctness is “the death of comedy.” By today’s standards his films could be seen as over the top, but to the keen watcher, you know his message is always one of inclusion. Brooks demonstrated that to make fun of something, you have to acknowledge it. You have to show it, and show why it deserves to be made fun of.
Comedy has to walk a thin line, take risks. It’s the lecherous little elf whispering in the king’s ear, telling the truth about human behavior
– Mel Brooks, to the BBC.
Brooks will serve as writer and executive producer on the series. Joining him will be a who’s who in comedy talent, including Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes, Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen, and Kevin Salter. With nearly 10,000 years of source material, who knows what important moments of world history will be satirized. Writing on the eight-part series began this month. History of the World Part II is not expected to begin filming until sometime in the Spring of 2022.
So, what do you think? Can Brooks and company make a series that lives up to the original film? Let us know what you think in the comments.
