The release of Rob Reiner's final film, Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, has been officially paused in the wake of the director's shocking death, which has seen his youngest son charged with murder.
A Hollywood Nightmare Unfolds
Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were found stabbed to death in the bedroom of their Brentwood home last Sunday. The couple's youngest child, 32-year-old screenwriter Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed the charges, which carry a potential sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.
The tragic incident followed a visibly tense public appearance by the family. Just hours before the murders, the Reiners attended a star-studded Christmas party at Conan O'Brien's Pacific Palisades mansion. Fellow guests, including comedian Bill Hader, were alarmed by Nick's erratic behaviour. Witnesses described him wearing a scruffy hoodie, acting "creepily," and interrupting conversations. A "very loud" argument between Nick and his father reportedly centred on Rob's concerns that his son, who has a long history of mental illness and addiction to heroin and cocaine, needed further treatment.
Film Release Put On Indefinite Hold
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the future of Reiner's last project has been thrown into uncertainty. Bleecker Street, the production company that acquired U.S. distribution rights to the concert film, has placed its release on hold. A source told Variety the decision was made until "the best path forward is decided with those closest to Rob and his family."
The film, Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, features the iconic trio of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer reprising their roles as the fictional rock band Spinal Tap for a performance at the ancient monument, with guest appearances from Shania Twain and Eric Clapton. Reiner first directed and starred alongside the trio in the legendary 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, followed by its 2025 sequel.
A Troubled History and a Fatal Outcome
Nick Reiner, who had recently moved back into a guest house on his parents' £10 million property, had struggled for years with drug addiction, mental illness, and bouts of homelessness. Despite supposedly conquering his addiction, insiders believe the argument at the party revolved around his parents' insistence he seek more help. Nick was reportedly adamant he would not enter another rehab facility.
Friends revealed that Rob had grown increasingly fearful his son was using drugs again and was becoming unstable. LA police released photos of Nick Reiner being arrested 15 miles from the crime scene. Sources indicate the couple may have been murdered in their sleep, as they were found in bed with their throats slit.
The entertainment world is now left mourning the loss of a beloved director while grappling with the horrifying circumstances of his death and the fate of his final cinematic work.
