Summary

• Rick Moranis retired from live-action movies in 1997 and chose to focus on voice acting instead, so he could spend more time with his family.
• Moranis was set to return to acting in the Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot, showing that his retirement may be over and he is open to important projects.
• The Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot was canceled due to COVID restrictions and budget cuts, but there is still a chance for the movie to be revived if there is enough fan interest.

After being a hugely successful movie star in the 80s and 90s with memorable appearances in now-classic comedies, many people wonder what happened to Moranis was notorious for his comedic roles in movies like Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, and Honey I Shrunk The Kids, bringing a unique sense of humor and physical comedy to all his performances. His characters were often the standout roles in every movie he appeared in, delivering something new and original each time while maintaining the trademarks that made him so popular.

In the years since his 90s success, Rick Moranis has seemingly dropped off the radar of the film industry. Many audiences have been left wondering what he’s been doing since making all those classic comedies, struggling to find an answer thanks to the actor’s very private life. Moranis didn’t return for Ghostbusters: Afterlife despite most of his co-stars coming back, which solidified the actor’s departure from Hollywood and built the curiosity surrounding what happened to Rick Moranis.

Rick Moranis Hasn't Starred In A Live-Action Movie Since 1997

Moranis Continued Doing Voice-Acting Work

The last live-action project that Moranis appeared in was 1997’s Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. The TV movie was a spin-off from Moranis’ popular comedy franchise, which began in 1989 with Honey I Shrunk The Kids. After reprising his role for the final time, Moranis unofficially retired from acting and decided to spend more time with his family in New York (via Looper). He’s continued to act whenever the right script comes along, but only providing voice-over work in animated movies - so he can continue to spend time at home.

These projects have included movies such as Disney’s Brother Bear, in which he played a character named Rutt, and the titular role in The Animated Adventures of Bob and Doug McKenzie. He reprised his role as Rutt several times over the years, both in the movie’s immediate sequel and video game adaptation.

Rick Moranis Was Set To Return To Acting With The Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Reboot

Moranis Seemed Willing To Step Out Of His Retirement

Over two decades after stepping back from acting, Moranis was ed to return for the Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot, reprising his beloved role as Wayne. The actor surprisingly agreed to the idea, g up for the project before it unfortunately fell through and was canceled. Although Shrunk doesn’t seem to be releasing any time soon, Moranis’ enthusiasm to return suggests that his unofficial retirement may finally be over. The news proves that he’s not completely opposed to acting again if the project strikes him as important, so there’s every chance that audiences will see him on the big screen again before long.

Although the hotly-anticipated Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot was canceled shortly after its announcement, that doesn't mean Moranis won't be returning as Wayne at some point in the future. Whether it's a feature-length appearance or just a cameo, the actor clearly has fond memories of this franchise and wants to come back in some form. The future of the reboot is still up in the air, but if it does go ahead in the future, Moranis will most likely be involved in some capacity - even if he's no longer willing to take up the lead role.

Why Rick Moranis' Acting Comeback Didn't Happen (Yet)

Josh Gad Would Have Led The Disney Reboot

Unfortunately, Josh Gad’s Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot had to be canceled due to COVID restrictions and budget cuts, which came into effect right before the pandemic hit in 2020. Gad has given an update on Shrunk that suggests the project won’t be going ahead after all — unless fans are enthusiastic enough. Writing on Twitter, the actor claimed:

“Truth is, we were inches from starting and then COVID hit, inches from starting again & then my schedule exploded with conflicts, inches from starting again & budget got the best of us. If you want it, let your local @disney know.”

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids reboot was just another example of movies being forced to shut down thanks to the pandemic, but luckily, several other projects that were put on hold in 2020 have been since revived - meaning this movie might not be over after all. As Gad suggested in his tweet, Disney certainly has the power to fund the project and get Moranis involved if they believe there's enough interest from the fans, so that's the only way to ensure this franchise continues.