Spinal Tap 2 Reveals Star-Studded Appearances
This Is Spinal Tap 2, the sequel to the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is starting filming, as of February 2024. As if this news wasn’t exciting enough for fans of the original, the number of stars making a cameo in the movie is quite impressive. In 2023, Garth Brooks, Elton John, and Paul McCartney were said to be cameos in the movie. Now, Questlove and Trisha Yearwood also joined the list.
Original Cast Returning
These guests are on top of the actual cast. It will be the same actors as in the first movie, including Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, all playing their original roles. Rob Reiner will be the director and once again act in Spinal Tap 2.
Ron Reiner has had a series of ups and downs in his directing career. In addition to This Is Spinal Tap, he also directed Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride among others. However, he also directed Alex & Emma, Rumor Has It…, and Being Charlie, which were not received as well.
One can only hope that his string of bad movies won’t affect Spinal Tap 2. Castle Rock Entertainment will be the production company funding the movie.
This Is Spinal Tap Released 40 Years Ago
This Is Spinal Tap aired in March of 1984. While it wasn’t the first mockumentary ever done, its becoming a cult hit did create a trend as other directors tried to cash in on the first movie’s fame.
In fact, the first movie grew so popular that in 2002, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation by the National Film Registry. To be considered, a movie must be considered, “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Spinal Tap Was Misunderstood At First
It definitely won the hearts of many, with over 100,000 reviews and an average score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics loved it as well, with a 96 percent average rating.
However, it took time. With the movie leading the charge in terms of mockumentaries, it took a while before the movie was fully understood. Then, it quickly became a cult classic.
The Sequel Almost Didn’t Happen
Originally, there were no plans to make Spinal Tap 2. As Reiner explained in an interview with NME: “We never thought about making a sequel. It was only because we started talking to each other and came up with an idea that might work. We don’t know if this will be the case. We will try. The bar is incredibly high. We were debating whether we should do it or not… I said, “Look at us, we’re all in our 70s. How much time do we have left to have fun?” That’s the thing: we wouldn’t try if we didn’t think we had something that could work.”
Everything We Know About Spinal Tap 2
If you haven’t seen This Is Spinal Tap, it’s worth watching before Spinal Tap 2 comes out. The mockumentary follows the story of a metal band that is fighting to make it big and get back on the charts again. The story is a roller coaster with good and bad moments for the band, and plenty of comedy along the way to keep you entertained.
Filming is taking place in New Orleans. Spinal Tap 2 will follow a similar premise to the first one, but a few years down the road. The fictional band, Spinal Tap, will reunite after 15 years to play one final concert, which they aren’t exactly excited about.
Currently, there is no release date for Spinal Tap 2. It was planned for March 19, 2024, as this would have been 40 years to the month since This is Spinal Tap came out. But the Writers Guild of America strikes in 2023 slowed down production and pushed out the release date.
