It’s Spinal Tap II, a sequel to the 1984 comedy This Is Spinal Tap, is set to hit the silver screen in 2024, with Rob Reiner returning to the director’s chair.
The sequel to the cult classic mockumentary will reunite the original stars of the film, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean.
The movie will be the first release from Castle Rock Entertainment’s revived film division, Deadline reported on Thursday.
The latest: It’s Spinal Tap II, a sequel to the 1984 comedy This Is Spinal Tap, is set to hit the silver screen in 2024, with Rob Reiner returning to the director’s chair. (L-R) Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Reiner were seen in a still from the original film
The premise of the film follows the faux English heavy metal trio of Derek Smalls (Shearer), Nigel Tufnel (Guest) and David St. Hubbins (McKean), with Reiner reprising his role as filmmaker Marty DiBergi.
Reiner, 75, told Deadline that there has been demand for the sequel for years, but it wasn’t until he, Shearer, Guest and McKean conceived a strong concept for the sequel that he decided to move forward.
‘The plan is to do a sequel that comes out on the 40th anniversary of the original film and I can tell you hardly a day goes by without someone saying, “Why don’t you do another one?”‘ he said. ‘For so many years, we said, “Nah.”
‘It wasn’t until we came up with the right idea how to do this. You don’t want to just do it, to do it. You want to honor the first one and push it a little further with the story.’
The premise of the film follows the faux English heavy metal trio of Derek Smalls (Shearer), Nigel Tufnel (Guest) and David St. Hubbins (McKean)
The movie in 2002 was chosen for preservation by the National Film Registry, as the Library of Congress declared it was ‘culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant’
Reiner opened up about the storyline of the forthcoming film, as the band is under pressure to reunite for a final concert.
‘They’ve played Albert Hall, played Wembley Stadium, all over the country and in Europe,’ Reiner told Deadline. ‘They haven’t spent any time together recently, and that became the premise. The idea was that Ian Faith, who was their manager, he passed away. In reality, Tony Hendra (the actor who played Faith) passed away.
‘Ian’s widow inherited a contract that said Spinal 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.’
Reiner opened up about reprising his role as Marty DiBergi, the director who made the original film, which ‘the band was upset with.
‘They thought I did a hatchet job and this is a chance to redeem myself,’ Reiner said. ‘I am such a big fan and I felt bad they didn’t like what they saw in the first film. When I heard they might get back together, I was a visiting adjunct teacher’s helper at the Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts. I drop everything to document this final concert.’
Guest, Shearer, McKean and Reiner posed for a photo during a screening for the original film at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival in NYC
The film was Reiner’s initial effort as a movie director, as he has amassed an impressive catalog of motion pictures in the 38 years since
The original movie is slated to screen at the Cannes Film Festival Wednesday as part of the Cinema de la Plage lineup.
The movie in 2002 was chosen for preservation by the National Film Registry, as the Library of Congress declared it was ‘culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.’
Reiner recalled how audiences were confused when the original film initially screened in Dallas.
‘People came up to me and said, “I don’t understand why would you make a movie about a band no one has heard of and is so bad. Why would you do it?”‘ he said. ‘I said it’s satire and I would explain, but it took awhile for people to catch up to it. Now, it’s in the National Film Registry.’
The film was Reiner’s initial effort as a movie director, as he has amassed an impressive catalog of motion pictures in the 38 years since. Among them include Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, Misery and A Few Good Men, which earned the filmmaker a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
It’s Spinal Tap II is slated to arrive in theaters March 19, 2024.