The release of filmmaker Rob Reiner's final project, a concert film titled Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, has been officially postponed in the wake of his tragic death alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
Project Put on Hold Indefinitely
According to a report from Variety, the film's US distributor, Bleecker Street, confirmed the delay. The project, which had been slated for release in 2026, is now on hold indefinitely. The distributor stated that the release would be delayed until "the best path forward is decided with those closest to Rob and his family."
The couple were found deceased at their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on Sunday. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with their murders.
Stonehenge: A Fitting Finale for the Legendary Band
The concert film was set to feature the iconic mock-rock band Spinal Tap—comprised of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer—performing live near the ancient Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire, UK. The location holds a special, comedic significance for the band due to one of the original 1984 film's most famous scenes.
In that scene, a disastrous stage show features a tiny replica of the Stonehenge stones being lowered onto the stage, the result of a confusion between feet and inches on the design plans.
Filmmakers were seen at the historic site in August, with English Heritage confirming the location had been hired. A subsequent statement in October revealed that guest musicians including Eric Clapton, Shania Twain, and Josh Groban had performed at the concert. Notably, none of this footage was used in the recently released sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, though a cover version by Elton John was recorded for that film.
The Legacy of Music at Stonehenge
While the Stonehenge concert was a unique event for Spinal Tap, it follows in the footsteps of other musical performances at the ancient site:
- DJs Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox staged the first officially sanctioned music show there in 2018.
- The location was also the home of the Stonehenge Free Festival, which ran a series of concerts between 1974 and 1984.
The delay of Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale leaves fans awaiting what would have been Rob Reiner's poignant and humorous final contribution to the beloved franchise, with its future now uncertain.
