Michael McKean TeasesThis is Spinal TapSequel 40 Years Later: ‘It’s Tragic in the Funniest Way’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean as Spinal Tap in 1992.Photo:Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty

Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty

Michael McKeanadmits the sequel toThis Is Spinal Tapwill be “tragic.”

TheClueactor, 77, teasedSpinal Tap II, the follow-up to the 1984 cult classic mockumentary about the titular fictional ’80s band, in an exclusive chat with PEOPLE atThe Diplomatseason 2 premiere on Monday, Oct. 28.

Slated to be released next spring, directorRob Reiner’sSpinal Tap IIwill star the original cast, including the aforementioned trio, alongsideFran Drescher as the band’s publicistBobbi Flekman. Reiner revealed in 2023 thatElton JohnandPaul McCartneywill also appear in the sequel.

‘The Diplomat’ stars Michael McKean, Ali Ahn and Rufus Sewell on Oct. 28, 2024.Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty

Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty

McKean, who played David St. Hubbins in the film, told PEOPLE that “it was fun” to reunite with his costars to make the sequel.

“We always have fun,” he added of his longtime friendships with them.

The popular “rockumentary” told the story of Spinal Tap as a filmmaker documents the rowdy fictional band through their ups and downs.

McKean said that his fondest memory ofThis Is Spinal Tapwas “showing it to people and having them like it” becausemaking it was a “struggle.”

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Explaining what the struggles of makingThis Is Spinal Tap, McKean told PEOPLE, “What we had was 20 hours of film and we got it down to 85 minutes. It was a long, long chore.”

“But once we started showing it to people and knowing that the audiences who were there for the film really dug it — it was never going to beGhostbusters,Ghostbusterswas that year,” he added.

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“It wasn’t going to beSplash, it wasn’t going to be one of the big, big money comedies — but we also knew that the people who liked it would like it very much and would keep it alive,” McKean continued.

Season 2 ofThe Diplomatis available to stream on Netflix now.Spinal Tap IIis set to be released in 2025.

source: people.com