The eagerly-awaited sequel to the 1984 movie This Is Spinal Tap has started filming in New Orleans, Louisiana.
American independent film and television production company Castle Rock Entertainment, which was co-founded by Spinal Tap director and actor Rob Reiner, has confirmed to Planet Rock today (11th March) that production recently commenced on the film.
Rob Reiner is once again directing and starring as documentarian Martin “Marty” DiBergi, while Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins) and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) all reprise their iconic roles as the legendary English heavy metal band, Spinal Tap.
The film will feature big-name cameos from music legends Elton John, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.
Guest, McKean, Reiner, and Shearer all conceived the sequel, which after a 15-year hiatus, has England’s loudest and most punctual band, reuniting for one final concert.
The film is being produced by Reiner, Michele Reiner and Matthew George and financed under the Castle Rock Entertainment banner. Christopher H. Warner and Derrick Rossi serve as executive producers.
Rob Reiner says: “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.”
This Is Spinal Tap was inducted into the US National Film Registry in 2002 after being deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
Spinal Tap performed a series of reunion concerts in 2009 including Glastonbury Festival and a headline show at London’s Wembley Arena.
In May 2022, Ric Parnell, best known for playing calamitous drummer Mick Shrimpton in This Is Spinal Tap, died aged 70.