‘Spinal Tap’ sequel update: Rob Reiner teases release date

Director Rob Reiner has revealed when he expects the long-awaited Spinal Tap II film to be released.

The beloved 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is considered one of the greatest comedy films of all time, with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer portraying the hapless heavy metal trio.

All three actors are set to return in the much-anticipated sequel, alongside director Reiner (When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride), who will also revive his own role as the fictional director Marty DiBergi within the film.

The sequel was first revealed in 2022. Now, in a new interview with Deadline, Reiner has given an update on the progress and shared when fans can expect to see the film.

“It’s going good,” he began. “Our first screening for our family and friends will be probably in August, and then sometime in September we’ll start showing it to distributors, and we’re hoping to have it out sometime late spring or early summer of next year.”

He added that filming is currently nearing a close in New Orleans.

Recently, it emerged that Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith were set to make appearances.

Other names confirmed for Spinal Tap II include returns for Fran Drescher and Paul Shaffer, as well as new names John Michael Higgins, Chris Addison, Kerry Godliman and Nina Conti.

This follows the previous news that Paul McCartney and Elton John will appear in the film, as confirmed by Reiner himself.

Meanwhile, Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls (Shearer) released his first new single in five years, ‘Must Crush Barbie’ recently. He described Greta Gerwig’s smash hit film as “the embodiment of lukewarm water”, and sings in the song about the film having “too much pink”, which he calls a waste of “film and ink”.