In a spirited reveal at the premiere of his latest comedy special, 'Adam Sandler: Love You', on Tuesday, August 20, Adam Sandler unveiled his high anticipation for the upcoming sequel to his 1996 classic, 'Happy Gilmore'. The comedic icon shared that the development process has been intense but rewarding, sparking an eagerness he hasn't felt in years. "We worked hard trying to write something fun, something that I think will really resonate with the fans. I'm more excited than I've been in many years to start shooting," Sandler enthused.
The buzz around a potential sequel started swirling earlier this year when Christopher McDonald, who starred alongside Sandler in the original, hinted during a radio interview on Audacy's 92.3 The Fan about a first draft of 'Happy Gilmore 2'. The excitement was further stoked when Drew Barrymore, a frequent collaborator of Sandler's, mentioned in April that the project was gaining momentum.
In a partnership with Netflix announced on May 15, Sandler is set to bring the beloved character back to life. Details of the storyline are still tightly under wraps, but Sandler disclosed on 'The Tonight Show' that NFL sensation Travis Kelce and other athletes are set to appear, promising a fresh dynamic to the sequel.
Addressing the high expectations, Sandler revealed the pressures of crafting a worthy follow-up. "For a long time, I hesitated to undertake 'Happy Gilmore 2' because I feared letting the fans down," he admitted. "But together with Tim Herlihy, we've hatched an idea that we're genuinely thrilled about. We've put our hearts into making this script something special."
Sandler also teased the imminent start of filming in New Jersey and shared a light-hearted moment about prepping for his character's notorious golf swing, which led to a humorous mishap. "I recently practiced the swing; it's trickier than it looks. I ended up on the ground, just lying there until someone handed me a lemonade," he chuckled with Jimmy Fallon. "But I'll be ready. When it's time to shoot, I'm all in."