Another week, another announcement of a reboot/rehash/prequel/sequel. Quick shout-out to Margot Robbie for going against the tide this week by saying, “original films can still hit huge.” So which world will we be returning to next? None other than the seminal, genre-defining, cult classic This Is Spinal Tap. Rob Reiner, who directed, cowrote, and costarred in the original 1984 film, confirmed on a recent podcast that a sequel is in the works and will be filming next year. I have one prediction: there will be an amp that goes to 12.
Four decades after first delighting audiences with 1984’s revered mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap,” director Rob Reiner is preparing to revisit the film’s mythical rockers once more. Production on a sequel featuring the infamous band at the center of Reiner’s cult classic comedy is scheduled to commence this coming February.
In addition to the fictional metalheads, the “Spinal Tap” follow up will feature appearances from real-world musical icons. Paul McCartney, Elton John and Garth Brooks are all slated to make cameos alongside the mock rock band in the highly-anticipated sequel, according to Reiner’s comments on the “RHLSTP with Richard Herring” podcast (“Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast”).
Reprising their iconic fake rocker roles will be Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer as the core Spinal Tap trio, while Reiner is back portraying documentarian Marty DiBergi. Plans for the sequel are to emulate the revered Martin Scorsese concert documentary “The Last Waltz,” which captured pioneering group The Band’s final tour performance.
“When it was announced that Spinal Tap would reunite for one final concert, Marty DiBergi 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,” Reiner said in a previous statement.
While full plot details remain under wraps, the “Spinal Tap” sequel will follow the mockumentary format showing where the fictional British rockers are today as aging musicians.
This is either going to be excruciatingly bad and disappointing, or bloody fantastic. No middle ground. As my prior sass would indicate, the idea of reboots and sequels makes me skeptical. People adore this movie, and it’s stood for 40 years as a perfect work (to many). If the sequel goes wrong, will that forever tarnish people’s connection to the original? Now all that being said, Reiner actually won me over with the premise. Taking on The Last Waltz? Nice angle. Making a middle-aged Marty DiBergi a “visiting adjunct teacher’s assistant?” Brilliant. And at the “Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts?!” Stop it. Also working in the sequel’s favor is all of the old band getting back together (sorry, had to pun). Especially with this particular band: Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer. They’re all seasoned comedic giants. (Personally I would watch Michael McKean read the Parliamentarian’s House Rules and Manual.) So though it goes against my usual instincts, I think Spinal Tap 2 has a fighting chance. And you know who has a small part in the original, who if they’re smart they’ll be inviting back for this sequel? SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher.
Photos credit: Ron Wolfson / Avalon, Tony Mottram / Avalon, Dennis Van Tine / Avalon, JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com, Choquet Lucie/ABACA
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