The director revealed plot details for “Spinal Tap 2”

Director’s Insights on Spinal Tap II

Director Rob Reiner has shared exciting updates about the eagerly awaited film, Spinal Tap II.

• READ MORE: 'This Is Spinal Tap 2': Here's what Rob Reiner told us about the long-awaited sequel

Returning Cast and New Plotlines

The sequel follows the classic 1984 mockumentary, This is Spinal Tap, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made. The original cast members, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, will reprise their roles for this new installment.

In a recent interview with Empire, Reiner revealed some intriguing plot points for the upcoming film, especially after confirming the appearances of music legends Paul McCartney and Elton John.

The director mentioned that the film, which is set to premiere in late spring or early summer 2025, will open by exploring the current lives of David St. Hubbins, guitarist Nigel Tufnel, and bassist Derek Smalls following the disbandment of Spinal Tap.

“Nigel runs a cheese and guitar shop in Berwick-upon-Tweed,” Reiner told the magazine. “He also plays with a local folk band, handling the tin whistle and mandolin, and joins them on electric guitar. We’ll include a short preview of this.”

He continued, “David St. Hubbins has settled in Morro Bay, California, creating music for various podcasts, especially a true crime podcast called The Problem with Murder.” Additionally, he composes the hold music you hear when on the phone.

“Derek resides in London, serving as the curator of the New Glue Museum, where he has collected glue from every nation, documenting its entire history. He also performs with a philharmonic orchestra and composed a symphony titled ‘Hell Wig’, which tackles the theme of the devil wearing bad hair.”

During the interview, Reiner also discussed the film’s inspiration, highlighting that the concept of Spinal Tap II emerged following the passing of Tony Hendra, who portrayed the band’s manager, Ian Faith, in the original film.

“(We) developed the idea that Ian Faith left a contract to his daughter, Hope, which included one more performance,” Reiner stated.

He added: “At first, she thinks, ‘Well, this isn’t really worth much…’ But then a famous music star, who’s soundchecking, is filmed on an iPhone singing a Spinal Tap song, and it goes viral on social media. Suddenly, the contract holds real value.”

Reiner also shared details about the film’s soundtrack, confirming the inclusion of new Spinal Tap songs alongside tracks by Elton John and Paul McCartney. “(I’ll) feature a couple of Elton John songs and one by Paul McCartney – while the songs they perform in the movie aren’t Spinal Tap originals, they’re well-known tracks. The rest will be new material,” he explained.

Furthermore, he shared a humorous scene: “Henry Diltz, a renowned rock photographer, takes them to a cemetery in New Orleans. Nigel asks, ‘Why are we here? All these people are dead,’ and Henry replies, ‘Well, you’ll need to get accustomed to this idea. It’s inevitable.’”

“Derek then contemplates what will happen after his death and writes a song titled ‘Rockin’ In The Urn,’ exploring how he’ll continue performing even posthumously.”

The sequel was first announced in 2022, with the recent addition of Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith to the cast.

Confirmed appearances in Spinal Tap II also include Fran Drescher and Paul Shaffer, alongside newcomers John Michael Higgins, Chris Addison, Kerry Godliman, and Nina Conti.