The classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is finally getting a sequel after 40 years, and here is everything we know about This Is Spinal Tap 2. This is Spinal Tap is one of the finest examples of the mockumentary subgenre, with its endlessly quotable dialogue embedded into pop culture. The movie was the directorial debut of Rob Reiner, who would go on to make other classic movies such as the drama Stand by Me, the fantasy film The Princess Bride, and the rom-com When Harry Met Sally. Reiner is back in the director's chair for This Is Spinal Tap 2.

The original follows the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap as they embark on an ill-fated American tour to promote their latest album. The key band are lead singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer). The comedy trio also created another fictitious musical group, The Folksmen, for the Guest-helmed 2003 mockumentary A Mighty Wind, but This Is Spinal Tap 2 will be the first time the band is reunited for a movie since This Is Spinal Tap was released in 1984.

This Is Spinal Tap 2 Latest News

Spinal Tap 2's Trailer & Release Month Are Announced

Though the long-awaited sequel has largely been shrouded in mystery since it was first announced, the latest news arrives in the form of a teaser for This Is Spinal Tap 2. Though the teaser doesn't feature any footage from the movie, it opens with a hand adjusting the knobs of an amplifier up to 11 before jamming out. The scene then cuts a title card which shows the famous Spinal Tap logo and the pillars of Stonehenge as the number 2. It also has a subtitle, "The End Continues."

Along with the trailer, it was also announced that This Is Spinal Tap 2 will premiere on September 12, 2025, and will be released theatrically. The release of the sequel is being coordinated with a special 41st anniversary release of the original film.

This Is Spinal Tap 2 Release Date

The Band Is Getting Back Together 40 Years Later

This Is Spinal Tap 2 was officially confirmed back in May 2022, and the announcement came as a shock to many who had written the sequel off entirely. On top of that, the 2022 reveal included word that not only would the original band return, but so too would director Rob Reiner. In March 2024, This Is Spinal Tap 2 began principal photography, and the movie is scheduled to arrive on September 12, 2025.

Why It's Taken 40 Years To Make This Is Spinal Tap 2

The Wait Will Be Worth It

Having ed the movie's landmark 40th anniversary, the time is now right for Spinal Tap to re-form once again.

In the four decades since the movie, Spinal Tap as a band has put out new content, including albums, live gigs, and a memorable cameo on The Simpsons. Director Rob Reiner says that the demand for a This Is Spinal Tap sequel from the fans has always been there, but he didn't want to do Spinal Tap 2 just "to do it. You want to honor the first one and push it a little further with the story” (via Deadline). Having ed the movie's landmark 40th anniversary, the time is now right for Spinal Tap to re-form once again.

This is Spinal Tap premiered on March 2, 1984.

This Is Spinal Tap 2 Cast Details

The Band Reunites Alongside Many Notable Cameos

Besides directing This Is Spinal Tap 2, Rob Reiner will be back on-screen as filmmaker and narrator Marty DiBergi. He will be ed by original cast Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls, Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins, and Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel. The sequel will no doubt feature a new drummer, with one of the running jokes of This is Spinal Tap being that their drummers invariably perish from freak accidents (spontaneous combustion, choking on someone else's vomit, etc.).

Fran Drescher has also been confirmed to reprise her role as Bobbi Flekman. Tony Hendra, who played band manager Ian Faith, ed away in 2021, but his character will inspire the story of Spinal Tap 2. Rob Reiner has confirmed that This Is Spinal Tap 2 will feature cameos from iconic musicians Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Questlove.

The confirmed cast of This Is Spinal Tap 2 includes:

This Is Spinal Tap 2 Story Details

What Happens When Spinal Tap Returns

Rob Reiner has set out the basic premise of This Is Spinal Tap 2, which may follow the format of a concert film, similar to Martin Scorsese’s classic music documentary The Last Waltz. The idea is that band manager Ian Faith has ed away, and Ian's widow has inherited a contract that states Spinal Tap owed them one more concert. With Spinal Tap reforming to avoid getting sued, Marty DiBergi gets the chance to document their final show and make peace with the band after they were upset with their portrayal in This Is Spinal Tap.

This Is Spinal Tap 2 Teaser Trailer

Watch The Teaser Below

Along with announcing the release date, a short teaser for This Is Spinal Tap 2 arrived in March 2025. Without showing any actual footage from the movie, the teaser features a hand adjusting the knobs of an amplifier. The hand turns each setting to 11 and an explosion erupts when someone strums their guitar. The teaser then cuts to the title card, which uses the pillars of Stonehenge to make the number 2.