Last Tuesday, the 26th, the online magazine Deadline Hollywood released updates about the sequel to This Is Spinal Tap , an American film released in July 1984. According to the website, a new cast has already been chosen and among the names are drummers Chad Smith ( Red Hot Chili Peppers ) and Lars Ulrich ( Metallica ).
Directed by Rob Reiner ( A Few Good Men ), This Is Spinal Tap gained the attention of the film and music industries. The film is considered a pioneer of the mockumentary subgenre, which comes from the English word "mock," meaning "to mock" or "to imitate." The script tells the story, through a documentary and comedic perspective, of a fictional English heavy metal band touring the USA.
The sequel had already been announced in 2022 , but with little information about it. “We never thought we’d do a sequel. It was just because we started talking and had an idea that we thought could work – we don’t know if it would work. We’re going to try. We discussed whether or not we should do it… I said, ‘Look at us, we’re all in our 70s. How much time do we have [laughs] to have fun?’”, Reiner told NME in May 2022.
Details regarding Smith and Ulrich's participation have not yet been released, but both may play roles as drummers who had brief stints with Spinal Tap. The musicians will join the original cast, which includes Christopher Guest as guitarist Nigel Tufnel, Michael McKean as singer David St. Hubbins, and Harry Shearer as bassist Derek Smalls.
The release was scheduled for March 2024, when the first film turns 40. Now, with a new cast being announced and following a writers' strike in Hollywood, production is underway and a new release date has not yet been announced. In addition to Smith and Ulrich, musicians Elton John , Paul McCartney ( The Beatles ), Questlove ( The Roots ), and Paul Shaffer ( The Blues Brothers/Late Night ) are also cast.
READ ALSO: Rob Halford recalls the first time he watched 'This Is Spinal Tap': "It was like watching ourselves"