The release of Rob Reiner’s final film, a concert film called Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, has been delayed following the death of the film-maker and his photographer wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
Variety reported that the film’s US distributors Bleecker Street said that a projected release in 2026 will be delayed until “the best path forward is decided with those closest to Rob and his family”.
The film is comprised of live concert footage featuring Spinal Tap (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer) performing material near the ancient monument in Wiltshire in the UK. The site is significant for Spinal Tap due to one of the original film’s most memorable gags, when a tiny replica of Stonehenge sarsens is lowered on to the stage due to a mix-up over measurements.
The film-makers were spotted at Stonehenge in August, with English Heritage confirming at the time that the site had been hired, but did not reveal further details. A statement in October said that Eric Clapton, Shania Twain and Josh Groban were guest musicians at the concert. None of the footage was used in the recently released Spinal Tap sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, but a cover version was recorded for the film featuring Elton John.
DJs Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox staged the first officially sanctioned music show at Stonehenge in 2018, while the site was the location of a series of concerts organised by the Stonehenge Free Festival between 1974 and 1984.
Rob and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead on Sunday at their house in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Their son Nick Reiner has been charged with their murders.