Where the heck is “Spinal Tap 2”?

The Rob Reiner directed sequel to his beloved 1984 mockumentary opens on September 12th (really the night before).

There’s a premiere set for September 9th in Los Angeles, and an IMAX premiere the next day, but otherwise there’s no buzz around this movie at all. The ticket advance sale is minimum at best to date.

“Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues” reunites Reiner with Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and even Fran Drescher. Paul McCartney and Elton John appear in it as real rock stars.

But so far there are no scheduled press screenings. Most movie press is now consumed by film festivals in Venice, Telluride, and Toronto. No one I’ve spoken to has heard a word about “Spinal Tap 2,” which is coming from the tragically beleaguered Bleecker Street Films.

In April, Bleecker Street lost its much loved founder, Andrew Karpen, only 59, to rare brain cancer. You can’t blame them for not being organized. But business goes on, and no one knows what’s happening.

Like a lot of fans of the original “This is Spinal Tap,” I was really hoping for something outrageously funny after 41 years. But all we have to go on is the trailer, released in July, and no other press since then. We know more about a dozen movies at least that open well after September 12th. Very strange, indeed.

Exclusive:

Just hearing from sources that the Hamptons Film Festival may have a problem.

Richard Gladstein, named as Executive Director in mid July, may be leaving the post already.

Gladstein has always been a mensch in the film business, either producing the great Lasse Hallstrom movies like “Chocolat” and “Cider House Rules,” or being named Dean of the American Film Institute.

Other hits he worked on during his time at Miramax in its heyday were
“Jackie Brown,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Reservoir Dogs,” plus “Finding Neverland.” Not bad!

No one has confirmed the news definitely, but the rumblings on the grapevine are loud. The Hamptons Fest begins October 4th and they’ve already announced their opening and spotlight films.

Gladstein had succeeded Anne Chaisson, who’d been Executive Director from 2012-2024 but had been on the advisory board for a decade earlier.

Film festivals are tricky to run. The executives are locked into a physical location often not where they live, and boards, etc are entrenched. The Hamptons Fest has really built up its reputation over the years as a top notch launching pad for indie films, but it’s still three hours from New York on a one-lane highway. (Also, hamburgers cost around 25 bucks!)

The face of HIFF remains David Nugent, who became Chief Creative Officer in July. Nugent has had a long tenure with the festival, joining the team in 2007 and expanding from Director of Programming to the organization’s Artistic Director, a role he has held since 2012.

Whatever happens, HIFF will go on and so will Gladstein, to big things.

Kumbaya!