Adam Sandler says 'We've only just begun' as production begins on sequel to his most popular comedy

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Adam Sandler has announced the start of production on a sequel to one of his most popular films.

In 2020, the Hollywood star signed a first-look deal with Netflix worth $275 million (£209 million), which earned him much praise, including Hurry And You are definitely not invited to my Bat Mitzvahwhich earned the actor a Rotten Tomatoes ranking.

Only now is the streaming service producing a sequel to an old Sandler film: The actor will slip back into the role of Happy Gilmore in time for the film's 30th anniversary.

On Monday (September 9), Netflix confirmed that Kyle Newachek, who directed Sandler, Crimewill oversee the film, which has a screenplay by Sandler and Tim Herlihy and was originally directed by Dennis Dugan.

“Happy Gilmore 2 is officially in production,” Netflix's official social media accounts shared, showing a first look at Sandler's costume from the film. Sandler himself shared the post on Instagram, writing, “It's not over. The way I see it… we've only just begun.”

Released in 1996, sports comedy Happy Gilmore follows a hockey player with anger issues who realizes he can channel his anger into big wins in professional golf, as he faces off against an arrogant opponent named Shooter McGavin, played by Christopher McDonald.

Happy Gilmore grossed $41 million (£31.3 million) worldwide against a production budget of $12 million (£9.1 million) and remains one of Sandler's most popular films.

Rumors of a sequel first emerged in March when McDonald said Sandler had written and shown him a draft of the sequel.

“I saw Adam about two weeks ago and he said to me, 'McDonald, you're going to like this,'” McDonald said in a radio interview on Audacy's 92.3 The Fan.

“I said, 'What?' He said, 'How about this' and showed me the first draft of Happy Gilmore 2 … I thought, 'Well, that would be great.' So it's in the works. The fans are demanding it, damn it!”

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A month later, Drew Barrymore said on her talk show that she had “breaking news.” She told the audience: “I will just say this, from my source, that [Happy Gilmore 2] is in progress.”

Sandler has hinted several times in the past that he would be interested in returning as Happy Gilmore.

In 2022, he said on diversityIn the podcast “Awards Circuit” he said he had the idea of ​​including a golf tour for seniors.

“Wouldn't it be fun to do the senior tour of Happy Gilmore, hang out with all the guys and try to write a great script about Happy as an older guy who has to control his temper and all that stuff? But I never know. Maybe something like that will happen someday,” Sandler said.

To The Dan Patrick Show Last month, Sandler hinted at something more than just a “funny” thing, saying, “Dude, we talked about a Happy 2 and we're working on some things… But don't tell anyone.”

There is no information yet on which of the film's other stars, if any, will return for the sequel, who will direct, or when the film will be released.