The band’s getting back together! Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Christopher Guest are reprising their roles as David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls, and Nigel Tufnel in a This Is Spinal Tap sequel.
The fictional heavy metal rock band is described as “England’s loudest and most punctual heavy metal band.”
The original This Is Spinal Tap was released in 1984 and is considered one of the best mockumentaries in film history. It was recognized as “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” and added to the National Film Registry in 2002.
The recently relaunched Castle Rock Entertainment is making the sequel and Oscar nominee/Castle Rock Entertainment CEO Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men) is confirmed to direct. This Is Spinal Tap marked Reiner’s feature film directorial debut and he’ll be reprising his role as filmmaker Marty DiBergi in the sequel.
British rock band Atomic Rooster’s drummer R.J. Parnell, who played Spinal Tap’s drummer Mick Shrimpton, passed away earlier this month.
“When it was announced that Spinal Tap would reunite for one final concert, Marty DeBergi saw this as a chance to make things right with the band who viewed This is Spinal Tap as a hatchet job. So he left his position as visiting adjunct teacher’s assistant at the Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts in pursuit of film history,” said Reiner.
Per Castle Rock’s official announcement, Guest, McKean, Reiner, and Shearer will conceive the sequel. Frank Marshall is set to produce and Castle Rock is financing the project. Matthew George, Jonathan Fuhrman, and Hernan Narea are executive producing.
The sequel’s targeting a 2024 release, timed to coincide with the original film’s 40th anniversary.
