Adam Sandler is finally returning to play one of his most iconic characters with the announcement that he will be starring in a Happy Gilmore sequel.
Netflix announced Wednesday at its Upfront 2024 presentation at Pier 59 studios in New York City that the 57-year-old comedian and actor would reprise the title character after previously playing him in the 1996 original, via The Hollywood Reporter.
That film, which grossed more than triple its budget, featured the Saturday Night Live alum as a washed-up hockey player with anger issues who uses his newfound golf talent to try to earn enough money to save his house. his grandmother from foreclosure.
The comedy has become one of Sandler’s most popular films with one of his most recognizable roles, so it made sense for the streamer to try to recapture some of Happy Gilmore’s glory with a sequel.
The news comes after one of Sandler’s good friends and frequent co-stars indicated that a Happy Gilmore sequel was in the works.
Netflix announced Wednesday at its Upfront 2024 presentation in New York that Adam Sandler will star in a Happy Gilmore sequel; photographed in Berlin in February
Sandler starred in 1996’s Happy Gilmore as the title character, a washed-up hockey player with anger issues who uses his newfound golf skills to try to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure; Pictured with Christopher McDonald (left) and Allen Covert (right)
Although Netflix announced that it would move forward with the project, it did not discuss the sequel’s plot or the creative team.
Last month, Drew Barrymore let loose when he revealed that Sandler had been working on a script for a Happy Gilmore sequel, although it wasn’t confirmed at the time whether the film was moving forward.
Christopher McDonald, who played villain and golf pro Shooter McGavin in the original film, shared in March that he thought Sandler might have a role for him in a possible Happy Gilmore sequel.
Sandler even told podcaster Dan Patrick that he was working on a script back in March, although there was no confirmation that the film would move forward at that time.
The star previously expressed interest in a sequel in 2022.
Sandler’s 1996 original was directed by Dennis Dugan and featured a script by its star and Tim Herlihy.
Happy Gilmore co-starred the late Carl Weathers, Julie Bowen, Frances Bay and Kevin Nealon, along with McDonald.
The late Bob Barker also made a cameo as himself, which included one of the film’s most popular scenes, in which he gets into a fistfight with Sandler.
The Happy Gilmore sequel will be part of Sandler’s $250 million deal with Netflix, for which he has produced films for the streaming service.
The deal has been a boon to Sandler’s wallet, but it has resulted in eight films that have been vilified by critics, while fans have not embraced them as tightly as they did his theatrical hits of the 1990s and 2000.
One of the worst reviews, the 2015 Western spoof The Ridiculous 6, has a staggering zero percent rotten rating from critics surveyed by rotten tomatoes.
Other films, including Sandy Wexler and Murder Mystery, haven’t fared much better with critics, although his 100% Fresh special was a hit with fans and critics and proved that Sandler’s comedy was as strong as ever.
Carl Weathers, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen and more co-starred in the original 1996 film, which was a hit for Sandler and earned three times its budget.
The late Bob Barker also made a cameo as himself, which included one of the film’s most popular scenes, in which he gets into a fistfight with Sandler.
McDonald and Drew Barrymore hinted in recent months that Sandler was working on a script for Happy Gilmore 2, but it was only now confirmed that the film was in the works.
The film will be part of Sandler’s mostly criticized films produced for Netflix. He is currently filming Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly opposite George Clooney; seen in 2020 in Beverly Hills
The actor also starred in the acclaimed films The Meyerowitz Stories (New And Selected) from director Noah Baumbach and Uncut Gems with the directing duo of Josh and Benny Safdie in the same period.
Both films earned him some of the best reviews of his career.
Sandler is back in prestige movie mode with another collaboration with Baumbach, who co-wrote the box-office juggernaut Barbie with his wife, Greta Gerwig, who directed the doll-inspired film.
Sandler has been seen filming his upcoming movie Jay Kelly in Italy in recent weeks alongside co-star George Clooney.
