Adam Sandler's 'Happy Gilmore 2' Confirmed by Netflix Amid Past Leaks, Comments
May 15, 2024
Happy Gilmore is hitting the links for the first time since 1996.
Netflix officially announced on Wednesday that a sequel to Adam Sandler's comedy about a a hockey goon turned golf superstar has been greenlit.
The announcement comes after Sandler said last month on The Dan Patrick Show that he and Tim Herlihy, who co-wrote the script for the original movie, were working on telling another chapter in the story of Gilmore's life.
The first suggestion of a Happy Gilmore sequel came from Shooter McGavin.
In an interview with Audacy's 92.3 The Fan in March (h/t Matt Grobar of Deadline.com), Christopher McDonald said he saw a copy of the first draft of the script.
"I saw Adam about two weeks ago, and he says to me, 'McDonald, you're gonna love this,'" the actor explained. "I said, 'What?' He says, 'How about that?' and he shows me the first draft of Happy Gilmore 2."
Sandler suggested in 2022 on Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast (h/t Jeremy Smith of SlashFilm) the idea of doing something involving a senior golf tour.
"Wouldn't that be fun to do the senior tour of Happy Gilmore, and hang out with all those guys and try to write a great script about Happy as an older guy, and having to calm down his temper and all that stuff? But, I never know. Maybe one day, something like that," Sandler said.
The original movie starred Sandler as an unsuccessful hockey player who discovers he can hit golf balls 400 yards. He uses that newfound skill to save his grandmother's house from foreclosure because she didn't have any money to pay her taxes.
One key player from the original movie will be missing this time around. Carl Weathers, who played Chubbs Petersen, died on Feb. 1 at the age of 76.
Adam Sandler @AdamSandlerA true great man. Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete. So much fun to be around always. Smart as hell. Loyal as hell. Funny as hell. Loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!! Everyone loved him. My wife and I had the best times with him every time we saw him. Love to… <a href="https://t.co/Gi2lPWFTgt">pic.twitter.com/Gi2lPWFTgt</a>
Details about the project, including a director, plot and release date, have not yet been announced.
The original movie was released on Feb. 16, 1996. It grossed $41 million worldwide on a production budget of $12 million.
This will mark just the third live-action sequel Sandler has starred in. He previously Grown Ups 2 in 2013 and Murder Mystery 2 in 2023.