Videos by ComicBook.com
According to the film’s official description, the Spinal Tap sequel will force bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (McKean, Guest, and Shearer) to play together once more after being estranged for 15 years. The sequel “also marks the resurrection of documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Reiner), who once again tries to capture his favorite metal gods as they contemplate mortality—and the hope that their 12th drummer doesn’t join them in The Great Beyond. Joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John, Spinal Tap wrestles with their checkered past to put on a concert that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock ’n’ roll.”
The first look images offer a glimpse of the band both behind the scenes and performing on stage, one with Elton John himself no less. And while the members of Spinal Tap are all pushing 80, St. Hubbins, Tufnel, and Smalls don’t seem to have missed a beat. Their hair is as long and feathered as ever, their outfits sufficiently ridiculous. It’s a promising sneak peek of the sequel, especially since This is Spinal Tap was such a critical success that it has earned a place in both the Library of Congress and the National Film Registry.
Spinal Tap II Director Rob Reiner Reveals a Real-Life Death and Stranger Things Inspired the Sequel
Earlier this summer, Reiner exclusively shared with ComicBook that although he, along with Shearer, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean were reticent to make a sequel for fear of sullying Spinal Tap‘s legacy, the real-life death of the actor who played the band’s fictional manager, Tony Hendra, changed their mind and gave them an idea for another movie.
“In reality, their manager…he actually died,” Reiner said, referring to the passing of actor Hendra in 2021. “So we thought, what if he bequeathed a contract to his daughter? And she had in this contract one last concert. But then what’s the point of it? It’s worthless because they hadn’t played in 15 years. Nobody knew about them. They’re done.”
