Spinal Tap Sequel Cameos Revealed

A sequel to the 1984 classic film, This Is Spinal Tap, is underway in New Orleans, and the new movie will feature some superstar special guests.

The new movie is set to land 40 years after the original mockumentary film based on the fictional-turned-actual band Spinal Tap, who reunite for “one final concert”.

Starring original actors and band members Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, reprising their roles of Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls, respectively, and returning director Rob Reiner (This Is Spinal Tap was notably his directorial film debut) will reprise his role of documentarian Martin “Marty” DiBergi.

In addition to the returning director and cast, the sequel to This Is Spinal Tap will feature a list of special guest cameos, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Questlove and country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Reiner quipped in a statement (per Deadline), “I recently spoke to Marty DiBergi, who said that he was more than happy to take a sabbatical from his position as a visiting Professor’s Assistant at the Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts to once again document Spinal Tap to ensure their place in the pantheon of Rock and Roll.”

In 2002, This Is Spinal Tap was selected for preservation by the US National Film Registry and described as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress.

Hints at a Spinal Tap sequel were reported in May 2022, with Reiner telling Deadline: “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.”

On the right idea, Reiner expanded on the film’s plot: “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.”

There is no release date set for the film at the time of this writing, but you can still get to turning those dials up to 11.