Elton John and Paul McCartney Set To Be In “Spinal Tap” Film
via Music and Movies That Rock / Youtube
The highly anticipated sequel to This Is Spinal Tap is set to be even more star-studded, according to the director and co-writer of the original film, Rob Reiner.
In a recent interview on the RHLSTP With Richard Herring podcast, Reiner disclosed that the upcoming sequel will include guest appearances by iconic musicians Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Garth Brooks. Additional surprises along similar lines are also in store, with filming scheduled to commence in February.
The Announcement: Return of Spinal Tap
Last year, Reiner announced the reunion of the principal cast from the 1984 mockumentary, with himself taking on the role of director both behind the scenes and in character as the fictional filmmaker Marty DiBergi. Joining him are Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins), and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls), the core members of the fictional hard rock band.
The premise of the sequel revolves around the now-septuagenarian Spinal Tap reforming to fulfill a contractual obligation to their late manager, Ian Faith (portrayed by Tony Hendra, who passed away in 2021). Reiner explained:
“Ian’s widow inherited a contract that said Spinal Tap owed them one more concert. She was going to sue them if they didn’t. All these years and a lot of bad blood we’ll get into and they’re thrown back together and forced to deal with each other and play this concert.”
Facing the threat of a lawsuit, the band is reluctantly brought back together, forced to confront years of animosity and play the long-awaited concert.
While Guest, McKean, and Shearer have occasionally revived their Spinal Tap characters for TV specials and live performances over the years, including the release of a new album in 2009 titled Back From the Dead, the absence of Ric Parnell, who played the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton, is noted. Parnell passed away in May 2022 at the age of 70.
