L-R: Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean
Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images
Rob Reiner has confirmed that the sequel to his 1984 heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is due to begin shooting next year and will feature a number of real-life musicians.
“We’re making a sequel,” Reiner said during an appearance on comedian Richard Herring's podcast. “We’re going to start shooting in the end of February and everybody is back.”
By "everybody," writer/director Reiner is referring to Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean, who starred as a hapless rock band with songs such as "Big Bottom" and "Stonehenge" in the original movie. Reiner also revealed that Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, and “a few other surprises” would be guest-starring in the sequel.
Rumors of a follow-up to This Is Spinal Tap were confirmed last year when Reiner shopped the idea at the Cannes Film Festival. The original plan had been to release it in 2024 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the original. Schedules had to be amended, however, during the recently-ended actor and writers' strikes.
Speaking to Deadline last year, Reiner said he had resisted the idea of a sequel until he had the "right" idea. "You don’t want to just do it, to do it," he said. "You want to honor the first one and push it a little further with the story."