There’s another Spinal Tap sequel coming–and some big stars will make cameos

This is Spinal Tap is one of those rare movies that not only captures the spirit and truth of the time but manages to keep doing so year after year and decade after decade. I can still watch it and laugh because so much of what’s depicted remains true.

Now, 40 years after its release, This is Spinal Tap is getting another sequel. Remember the 1992 follow up, The Return of Spinal Tap? No? It was a straight-to-video thing that featured mostly footage from a real-life gig at the Royal Albert Hall. If you saw it, you’ll remember that they had a problem with the Stonehenge set again. This time it was too big.

Rob Reiner is back to direct and will appear in the film as documentarian, Marty DiBerg, saying that “We’re going to start shooting in the end of February and everybody is back.”

At least three big names will make cameos:

• Paul McCartney
• Elton John
• Garth Brooks

And like I said, Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), (Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins), and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) are back on board. No word on a drummer, of course. Too dangerous. We’ll see if Fran Drescher returns as publicist Bobbi Flekman and if Paul Shaffer asks for his ass kicked again in the role of record company weasel Artie Fufkin.

One person who won’t be back is manager Ian Faith, played by actor Tony Hendra. He died in 2021of ALS. That real-life fact will factor into the story. In the film, his widow inherits a contract saying that the band owed Ian one more concert. If they don’t play the gig, she will sue them. With no other choice, the band is thrown back together (they’re not happy about it; there are plenty of grudges), and are forced to play this concert.

Meanwhile, the members of the group hate Marty DiBergi, believing that he did a hatchet job with the original film. But whole else can document the preparations for this one final performance? He leaves his adjunct teacher’s helper job at the Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts to take the job.

I tried to come up with a “turn it up to 11” joke to end this piece, but I failed. I’m sure someone will pick up the torch.