Spinal Tap sequel to start filming in February 2024 as big name cameos revealed
Rob Reiner has spoken about the movie
The hotly anticipated sequel to This Is Spinal Tap will start filming in February 2024, director and writer Rob Reiner has confirmed.
The yet-to-be-titled mockumentary will see original stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer reprise their roles as Nigel Tufnel, David St Hubbins and Derek Smalls respectively.
As well as writing and directing, Rob Reiner will once again star as fictional documentarian Martin 'Marty' DiBergi in the movie.
During an appearance on the RHLSTP With Richard Herring podcast this week, Rob said: "We're making a sequel. We're going to start shooting in the end of February, and everybody is back."
Rob went on to reveal that music icons Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks will all make cameos in the film, and there will be 'a few other surprises' in store for fans.
In May 2022, Rob first confirmed that the This Is Spinal Tap sequel is being made to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1984 original.
Speaking to Deadline, Rob Reiner said: “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? 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 honour the first one and push it a little further with the story.”
Commenting on the concept, Rob explained: “(Spinal Tap) 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 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.”
Rob added: “I’m back playing Marty DiBergi. The band was upset with the first film. They thought I did a hatchet job and this is a chance to redeem myself.
“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.”
This Is Spinal Tap was inducted into the US National Film Registry in 2002 after being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
Spinal Tap performed a series of reunion concerts in 2009 including Glastonbury Festival and a headline show at London’s Wembley Arena.
In May 2022, Ric Parnell, best known for playing calamitous drummer Mick Shrimpton in This Is Spinal Tap, died aged 70.
Earlier this year, Spinal Tap bass virtuoso Derek Smalls unleashed arguably the greatest song of this millennium, the Barbie diss track ‘Must Crush Barbie.’
Singers who made cameos in movies:
David Bowie, Zoolander
Legendary singer David Bowie played a crucial part in the original Zoolander film, briefly starring as himself to judge the "walk-off" between Derek and Hansel. Actor Ben Stiller later said he was "in shock" that David agreed to be in it.
Gwen Stefani, The Aviator
No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani portrayed 1930s actress Jean Harlow in the film starring Leonardo Di Caprio. Director Martin Scorsese cast her as his daughter was a huge No Doubt fan.
Alanis Morissette, Dogma
'Ironic' singer Alanis Morissette portrayed the character of God in the Ben Affleck/Matt Damon flick, with director Kevin Smith calling her "otherworldly" and "ethereal."
Jarvis Cocker, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as the lead singer of wizarding band The Weird Sisters, who perform at the Yule Ball. The band also featured Jarvis' Pulp bandmate Steve Mackey as well as Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway from Radiohead.
Ian Brown, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Stone Roses singer Ian Brown had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in the third installment of the Harry Potter films as a wizard stirring his drink with magic whilst reading 'A Brief History of Time' by Stephen Hawking sat in the Leaky Cauldron pub in the fictitious village of Hogsmeade.
Brown told NME, "The director is a friend of my girl and he said, 'I've got a part if you want it. I asked my sons, and they were like, 'Do it!' I did it for my sons. My brief was to be a romantic, bohemian wizard. I was into that."
Madonna, Die Another Day
After providing the title track for 2002 James Bond flick Die Another Day, Madonna also appeared in the film very briefly as fencing coach Verity who tutors Olympic hopefuls and tells Pierce Brosnan's Bond, "I see you handle your weapon well."
Dave Grohl, The Muppets
Nirvana and Foo Fighters musician Dave Grohl starred in the 2011 reboot film The Muppets as a drummer in rival band the Moopets named Animool. He later had a drum-off with Animal a few years later in the TV series.
Enrique Iglesias, How I Met Your Mother
Enrique starred in the series as Robin's exotic lover Gael who incites jealousy from Robin's ex-boyfriend Ted.
Jennifer Lopez, How I Met Your Mother
JLo had a brief cameo as a love interest for Barney Stinson, an author named Anita.
Carrie Underwood, How I Met Your Mother
The last of our HIMYM cameos, country singer Carrie Underwood starred as a love interest for Ted, a pharmaceutical representative who kept him hanging on.
Macy Gray, Spider-Man
'I Try' crooner Macy Gray featured very briefly as herself performing at a concert in the first Spider-Man film in 2002 starring Tobey Maguire as the main man.
Adele, Ugly Betty
Adele starred in beloved American sitcom Ugly Betty back in 2009 as herself taking part in a photoshoot for Betty.
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