Bleecker Street has released the first trailer for its music mockumentary sequel, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”
Forty-one years in the making, “The End Continues” is the follow-up to the 1984 classic comedy, “This Is Spinal Tap.” In the original film, director Rob Reiner — playing a fictional version of himself — follows the fictional British metal band across its North American tour. Though the film is scripted, it follows the visual language and conventions of the era’s iconic music documentaries like Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same” and The Band’s “The Last Waltz,” satirizing the dramatic, eccentric and wild behaviors of rock-and-roll musicians.
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer reprise their roles as Spinal Tap bandmates Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls in “The End Continues.” Reiner also returns, both in front of and behind the camera.
The sequel shows the band recruiting a new drummer and prepping for a reunion concert in New Orleans that they were booked for after Stormy Daniels canceled, with Elton John rocking out with the band in one scene.
The sequel is timely, not just because of the abundance of 1980s nostalgia and legacy sequels hitting screens, but also because of the various hair metal bands that have declared final tours over the past few years. Kiss wrapped its End of the Road Tour in 2023. Aerosmith waved goodbye with the Peace Out Tour in 2024. Most recently, Black Sabbath delivered an epic final performance with its Back To The Beginning show in July.
These bands and their larger-than-life personas provided the inspiration for Spinal Tap during the 1980s. Now, over four decades later, Spinal Tap will poke fun at them once more.
“Spinal Tap II” hits theaters on Sept. 12. Watch the trailer below.
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From Variety US