This Is Spinal Tap Director Says Sequel Will Feature Paul McCartney, Elton John and a ‘Few Other Surprises’

Rob Reiner also teased other musical appearances in the upcoming film, including Garth Brooks

Jen Juneau is a News and Movies Staff Writer at PEOPLE. She started at the brand in 2016 and has more than 15 years’ professional writing experience.

From L: Paul McCartney; Spinal Tap; Elton John. PHOTO: SAMIR HUSSEIN/WIREIMAGE; EMBASSY PICTURES/COURTESY EVERETT; THEO WARGO/GETTY

Does Spinal Tap have some competition?

Rob Reiner, who directed the 1984 “rockumentary” film This Is Spinal Tap, said on Sunday’s episode of the RHLSTP with Richard Herring podcast that Elton John and Paul McCartney would appear in the upcoming sequel.

Reiner, 76, also teased “a few other surprises” (including Garth Brooks), and revealed that they were scheduled to begin filming in late February.

Deadline reported news of the long-awaited sequel back in May 2022, revealing that it would be titled simply Spinal Tap II.

PEOPLE confirms that the film will be fully financed by Castle Rock Entertainment, and be conceived by Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, who all co-wrote the original. Reiner will also co-produce, alongside Michele Reiner and Matt George.

Rob Reiner and David Kaff on the set of ‘This Is Spinal Tap’.AUTHORIZED SPINAL TAP LLC/SHUTTERSTOCK

In the almost four decades since its release, This Is Spinal Tap has become part of the fabric of popular culture, introducing numerous catchphrases — most notably the extra-loud guitar amps that “go to 11.” It also helped popularize the “mockumentary” film genre.

In the follow-up installment, Reiner will also reprise his role as filmmaker Marty DiBergi — and band members David St. Hubbins (played by McKean, 76), Nigel Tufnel (Guest, 75) and Derek Smalls (Shearer, 79) are all set to return, as well, per Deadline.

“The plan is to do a sequel that comes out on the 40th anniversary of the original film and I can tell you hardly a day goes by without someone saying, ‘Why don’t you do another one?’ ” Reiner told the outlet about the project in May 2022.

“For so many years, we said, ‘Nah.’ It wasn’t until we came up with the right idea how to do this,” he added. “You don’t want to just do it to do it. You want to honor the first one and push it a little further with the story.”

Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest as Spinal Tap in 1984. PETE CRONIN/REDFERNS/GETTY

Reiner also told Deadline that the sequel’s premise will be based on the idea that the band hasn’t “spent any time together recently” and would come together due to a contract from their late manager Ian Faith (played in the original film by Tony Hendra, who died in 2021).

“Ian’s widow inherited a contract that said Spinal Tap owed them one more concert,” the director said. “She was basically going to sue them if they didn’t.”

He added, “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.”

Of his character Marty’s part in the upcoming movie, Reiner told Deadline, “The band was upset with the first film. They thought I did a hatchet job and this is a chance to redeem myself.”

“I am such a big fan and I felt bad they didn’t like what they saw in the first film,” he shared. “When I heard they might get back together, I was a visiting adjunct teacher’s helper at the Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts. I drop everything to document this final concert.”