Last year, a sequel to This Is Spin̈al Tap was announced. Now, director Rob Reiner has not only confirmed that shooting will begin next year, but has even a sneak peek at some of the “surprise” guests who will be featured the film, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, and more.
“We’re making a sequel,” Reiner told Richard Herring on an episode of his RHLSTP podcast, adding that “everybody’s back” for the project. Reiner will reprise his role as filmmaker Marty DiBergi, and Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer will return as Spin̈al Tap’s Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls, respectively.
Continuing, Reiner confirmed that the film is “going to start shooting at the end of February,” and revealed: “Paul McCartney is joining us, and Elton John, and a few other surprises, [like] Garth Brooks.”
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Last year, Reiner spoke about the sequel with NME, explaining that the film’s premise would center around DiBergi getting a chance to redeem himself with a new Spin̈al Tap documentary, after some career hardship. “DiBergi was roundly criticized by the band members for having done a hatchet job, [but] he’s going to be doing the second film,” he said. “Marty has not been that successful [since]. I think he made Kramer vs Kramer vs Godzilla, which didn’t do very well.”
As for the band members themselves, Reiner told Deadline that “the idea was that Ian Faith, who was their manager, he passed away. In reality, Tony Hendra passed away. Ian’s widow inherited a contract that said Spin̈al Tap owed them one more concert. She was basically going to sue them if they didn’t. All these years and a lot of bad blood we’ll get into and they’re thrown back together and forced to deal with each other and play this concert.”
The Spin̈al Tap sequel was initially due to premiere on the 40th anniversary of the 1984 original, but no release date has been confirmed yet.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, Spin̈al Tap’s bassist, Derek Smalls, reemerged with the topical summer single: “Must Crush Barbie.”
As for McCartney and John, the former Beatle is fresh off from releasing the legendary quartet’s final song: “Now and Then.” John, meanwhile, will surely have plenty of time to film his parts, after wrapping his massive farewell tour this past July.
For more on Spin̈al Tap, revisit our round up on the funniest moments from This Is Spin̈al Tap, and read our classic movie review.
