Hulu has unveiled some first look images for History of the World, Part II, the official follow-up to the classic Mel Brooks movie History of the World, Part I. The original film, released in 1981, was written, directed, and produced by Brooks, who also starred in the film playing five separate roles. It consists of different segments telling the story of the world from the Stone Age to the Old Testament, Roman Empire, Spanish Inquisition, and French Revolution. Brooks did not intend to make a sequel as the "Part I" part of the title was a joke.
However, it was announced in 2021 that Hulu would be giving History of the World, Part I a follow-up after all. Yes, Brooks will be back to act in the follow-up, which comes in the form of a variety series. Brooks also returns as a writer and executive producer on the series alongside series stars Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, and Ike Barinholtz, as well as David Stassen, Kevin Salter, David Greenbaum, and Christie Smith.
"I can't wait to once more tell the real truth about all the phony baloney stories the world has been conned into believing are History!" Brooks said in a statement addressing what was to come when the series was announced.
The first look photos reveal some of the characters we will be seeing in the new series. One photo features Kroll, Sykes, and Barinholtz serving as commentators at a sports game. Barinholtz is "Leon Trotsky" in another image, pointing to an image of surfers riding the "Crimson Wave." One photo has Kroll as "Schmuck Madman," a man with a cart that reads, "Putz Mates." Finally, Sykes can be seen as Shirley Chisholm in another photo, a fist raised in the air with several others behind her doing the same.
You can see the full-size first look images below.
History of the World, Part I Finally Gets a Sequel
The title for History of the World, Part I was a joke title, and Brooks wasn't looking to make a sequel when he titled the original film as such. He previously shared the story on how the movie got its name.
"I was walking across the parking lot at 20th Century-Fox on my way to my office when one of the grips who had worked on High Anxiety' shouted to me from the back of a moving truck. ''Hey, Mel, what's next? Planning a big one?''' Brooks explained, per the New York Times. "From out of the blue the biggest title I could think of popped into my mind: ''Yes, the biggest movie ever made. It's called History of the World.''
He added, "Someone else on the truck yelled: 'How can you cover the whole world in one movie?' 'You're right,' I shouted. 'Maybe I'll call it History of the World, Part I.'"
History of the World, Part II is expected to debut on Hulu this spring, but an official premiere date has not yet been announced.