Adam Sandler is ready to return to golf in Happy Gilmore 2 for Netflix. The streaming service announced on Monday that the sequel to the 1996 comedy is set to begin filming. Kyle Newacheck (Murder Mystery) is directing the movie from a script written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy. The original film by Universal Pictures was directed by Dennis Dugan, who also helmed other Sandler-led hits like Big Daddy and Grown Ups.
On his 58th birthday, Sandler shared a photo on Instagram of the Boston Bruins hockey jersey he wore in the first movie, with the message: “It ain’t over. The way I see it… we’ve only just begun.” In the original film, his character says a similar line to Shooter McGavin, played by Christopher McDonald. Netflix also posted the same image on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that Happy Gilmore 2 is officially in production.
As of now, no plot details for the sequel have been shared. The original Happy Gilmore followed Sandler as a failed hockey player who becomes an unexpected golf sensation due to his powerful swings. McDonald revealed earlier this year in a radio interview that a script for the sequel was in the works. A few months later, Netflix officially announced the project, and in May, they confirmed Sandler would reprise his iconic role in the new movie.
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Sandler mentioned in recent media appearances that Benny Safdie will have a role in Happy Gilmore 2, while NFL star Travis Kelce will make a cameo. “We have a nice something for Travis,” Sandler said on The Tonight Show. “He’s going to come by.” Sandler praised Kelce as “he’s a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life. What a big, handsome guy. And…-Yeah. Well, funny and cool as hell.” Sandler, who is co-writing the script with Tim Herlihy, also teased that professional golfers will make cameos throughout the movie.
The original Happy Gilmore, directed by Dennis Dugan, grossed over $82 million worldwide and still holds a cult following. The cast included Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Frances Bay, Carl Weathers, Allen Covert, Kevin Nealon, Peter Kelamis, Richard Kiel, Dennis Dugan, Joe Flaherty, and Jared Snellenberg. It also featured cameos from Lee Trevino, Verne Lundquist, Mark Lye, Ben Stiller, and Bob Barker. Fans can relive the original movie, currently available to stream on Peacock.
Universal Pictures, which released the original film, will distribute the sequel. Though a release date for Happy Gilmore 2 has not yet been announced, production is set to take place in New Jersey starting in September.Sandler expressed his excitement about the project in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He noted that the idea for the sequel came together organically: “The idea that me and my buddy Tim Herlihy had and the more we talked about it and scene to scene worked on it, it built and we feel very strong about the movie itself. We’re happy where it’s at and this is an exciting time for us. I don’t know how all of a sudden our brains said, ‘Let’s do that.’ It just kind of happened.”
