After more than four decades, the most boisterous and reliable band in the industry has made a comeback! Today, we got our first glimpse of the sequel to the cherished mockumentary, “This is Spinal Tap,” and from what we can discern, the wait was worth it. Titled “Spinal Tap II: The Saga Continues,” this new film brings back the comedic minds behind the 1984 classic as the band Spinal Tap prepares for one final performance. Rob Reiner returns to direct and reprises his role as documentarian Marty Di Bergi, while Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer also pen the script and reprise their now-legendary characters. This announcement couldn’t be more timely since a refurbished, remastered, and 4K version of “This is Spinal Tap” has been playing in theaters this month.
As per the film’s description, the sequel of “Spinal Tap” brings back band members David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (played by McKean, Guest, and Shearer) after a 15-year estrangement. The sequel further revives filmmaker Marty Di Bergi (Reiner), who attempts to record the metal legends as they ponder their mortality, while hoping that their 12th drummer doesn’t follow them into the afterlife. Notable musicians Paul McCartney and Elton John join forces with Spinal Tap to grapple with their tumultuous past and stage a concert aimed at cementing their place in the halls of rock ‘n’ roll history.
In the initial glimpses, you’ll find images capturing Spinal Tap both off-stage and performing, including Elton John himself. Despite being well into their 80s, St. Hubbins, Tufnel, and Smalls appear to be as energetic as ever. Their hair remains long and feathered, while their costumes maintain their signature absurdity. This sneak peek promises a lot for the sequel, given that This is Spinal Tap was critically acclaimed enough to secure a spot 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
This past summer, Reiner revealed to ComicBook that he, along with Shearer, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean had been hesitant to create a sequel due to the concern of damaging Spinal Tap‘s reputation. However, the passing of the actor who portrayed the band’s on-screen manager, Tony Hendra, prompted them with an idea for another film.
In truth, their manager, who was Hendra, passed away in 2021, as Reiner explained. This led us to ponder a hypothetical scenario: what if he left a contract for his daughter? This contract stipulated one final concert. But the question arises, why bother? The contract is essentially worthless because the band hadn’t performed together in 15 years, and they were largely unknown to the public – effectively, their career was over.
In that context, “Stranger Things” steps into the picture. Taking inspiration from the renewed popularity of Kate Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” on the Netflix series, Reiner and his co-creators recognized an opportunity for the band to remain significant in the hearts of 21st century music enthusiasts.
Reiner proposed this scenario: “Imagine if, during a soundcheck, one of the band members is caught doing something unusual. If someone captures it on their smartphone and posts it on TikTok, it goes viral. Suddenly, they gain popularity again. This was the concept behind the movie.
In theory, the concept appears to be highly successful, and the fact that the original creative team is back on board strengthens this assumption even more. The inclusion of Elton John and Paul McCartney in the film certainly adds appeal to “Spinal Tap II”. However, the ultimate verdict will only be decided when the movie hits theaters in September. Will audiences find the band’s final chapter compelling, or merely consider it as just another sound among the clutter in today’s media-saturated world?
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues rocks into theaters September 12th.
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2025-07-23 22:40