New ‘Spinal Tap II’ Trailer Teases Reunion Concert and All-Star Cameos

Spinal Tap reunite for one last concert in the latest trailer for the classic rock mockumentary’s upcoming sequel.

The preview for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues opens up with highlights from the Rob Reiner’s 1984 film before Reiner himself — as documentarian Marty Di Bergi — reveals the purpose of the 40-years-later documentary: To celebrate Spinal Tap’s legacy by bringing together Michael McKean’s David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest’s Nigel Tufnel, and Harry Shearer’s Derek Smalls (and whatever fearless drummer they can recruit) for a final gig in New Orleans.

The trailer also provides a tease of the many, many real-life rockers who will cameo in the mockumentary, including Paul McCartney (who praises Spinal Tap’s “Big Bottom”), Questlove (who rejects an opportunity to be the band’s drummer because he doesn’t want to die like their 11 or 12 other drummers), and Elton John, who appears during the group’s final gig.

Other rumored cameos include Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Paul Shaffer (reprising his role from the original), and more.

Like the original This Is Spinal Tap, Reiner has said that the sequel would largely be improvised, but with a firm structure in place. The filmmaker also cited another key influence of the film, saying it would be modeled in part on Martin Scorsese’s classic documentary about the Band’s final concert, The Last Waltz. 

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues arrives in theaters on Sept. 12.