After more than four decades since the release of This Is Spinal Tap, the legendary rock band is making a highly anticipated comeback with Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, scheduled to premiere later this year. The talented director Rob Reiner, who returns to portray the role of documentary filmmaker Martin “Marty” Di Bergi, had previously hesitated to revisit this beloved band. What ultimately influenced his decision to return? Interestingly, it was the cultural phenomenon of Netflix’s Stranger Things along with the resurgence of Kate Bush that inspired the creative journey back to eleven with Spinal Tap II.

“We remembered that Kate Bush had a song featured in Stranger Things,” Reiner shared with Entertainment Weekly. “Suddenly, there was a significant resurgence for Kate Bush. We thought to ourselves, ‘Ah, that’s what sparked it.‘” This realization led Reiner to brainstorm ways to reunite the band. “We envisioned a scenario where a rockstar would casually perform one of their songs, perhaps during a soundcheck. If someone recorded it on their iPhone and posted it on TikTok, it could go viral, sparking renewed interest in Spinal Tap. That became the foundation of our approach.“

The journey towards creating this long-awaited sequel also originated from a legal dispute initiated by Harry Shearer against the studio. “Harry Shearer, bless him, was incredibly frustrated about the fact that he hadn’t received compensation from video sales, DVDs, and international distribution over the years,” Reiner explained. “We literally didn’t see a penny. I’m not exaggerating; it sounds absurd. We each received 82 cents to split from 40 percent of the profits. Harry argued that this was an example of creative accounting taken too far. Consequently, he filed a lawsuit to reclaim the rights.” The lawsuit ultimately succeeded, leading to discussions about a potential sequel.

“We contemplated whether we should proceed with a sequel. Initially, we said no, we had already completed our story,” Reiner remarked. “However, after meeting several times and discussing various ideas, we eventually changed our minds about pursuing it.“

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues will bring together Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel, and Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls, but the question remains: Will it match the brilliance of the original? Even Reiner expresses uncertainty. “You have pinpointed precisely our concern, our anxiety. It’s a high standard, and I’m not claiming that we have exceeded it,” he stated. “There’s a reason Timeout Magazine deemed it the greatest comedy of all time. It’s challenging to surpass that. However, this sequel does resonate; it fulfills expectations and delivers a satisfying experience. While the purists might criticize us, the fact remains that it works; it genuinely works.” The much-anticipated sequel is set to hit theaters on September 12.