Happy Gilmore 2: Everything You Need to Know about Adam Sandler’s Comedy Golf Movie Sequel

After years of rumours and speculations, Adam Sandler is finally returning as Happy Gilmore! Happy Gilmore came to the big screen in 1996 and quickly became a cult classic. In his role as a hotheaded and hopeless hockey player turned professional golfer, Adam Sandler created a unique blend of slapstick comedy and sports drama. Almost three decades later, fans have finally received official confirmation that Happy Gilmore 2 is in the works.

On May 16 2024, streaming giant Netflix confirmed that Happy Gilmore 2 is coming to the platform! According to reports, Sandler is working on the sequel script with the original co-writer of the movie, Tim Herlihy. As part of a USD 250 million deal with Netflix, Sandler’s production house Happy Madison will also produce the film. Other than Adam Sandler, some of the previous cast members will reprise their roles for the sequel. With that being said, a slew of new celebs will also be joining the cast of the sequel to one of the funniest golf movies ever made.

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What happened in Happy Gilmore (1996)?

The 1996 movie featured the titular character Happy Gilmore (played by Adam Sandler), a terrible aspirant ice hockey player with a short temper and an unusual ability for striking long-range Golf shots. His life changes when his grandmother’s home is repossessed by the government due to ten years of unpaid taxes. In a desperate attempt to raise funds to keep his grandmother’s home, Happy joins the PGA Golf tour.

Impressed by his long drives, Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers), a former professional golfer, decides to train him. Happy reluctantly agrees to enter the world of professional golf to make money. With Chubbs’ help, he begins competing in tournaments, earning recognition for his unusual swing, foul-mouthed tirades, and crazy attitude, much to the displeasure of the more traditional golfing community.

Happy’s quick success annoys Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), an arrogant and snobby golf champion. As Happy enters the professional circuit determined to win and reclaim his grandfather’s house, Shooter tries to sabotage him with different tricks and tactics. Along the way, he falls in love with PR executive Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen), who helps him deal with the sport’s complexity. During the final showdown, Happy not only defeats Shooter but also secures the funds required to rescue his grandmother’s home.

When will Happy Gilmore 2 be released?

Happy Gilmore 2 is officially in production ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/IznOshH5Es

— Netflix (@netflix) September 9, 2024

On September 9 2024, Netflix announced that the sequel to Happy Gilmore is officially under production. The streaming service has not yet announced an expected release date, but the film will most likely arrive in late 2025 or early 2026.

Happy Gilmore 2 cast members — old and new

The old cast members who are definitely reprising their roles are —

Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore
Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin
Julie Bowen as Virginia Venit

The new cast members revealed so far include —

Sandler confirmed on Jimmy Fallon that Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, will make a cameo appearance in the film. Travis and his friend Patrick Mahomes are avid Golfers who frequently comPete in Celebrity tournaments. In a special episode of the Kelce brothers’ podcast New Heights featuring Adam Sandler, Kelce also said that the 1996 film was the reason he first picked up a Golf club.

The sequel will also include professional wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Spanish musician Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasió (also known as Bad Bunny). However, they have all remained discreet about their roles. Reports suggest that professional Golfers may also appear in the movie. Although there are speculations of Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy making appearances, official confirmation has been hard to pin down.

The original Happy Gilmore had its fair share of interesting cameos. In the initial film, Bob Barker, the famous entertainer who hosted The Price is Right, made a cameo appearance as Gilmore’s pro-am punch-up partner, while Richard Kiel stole the show as Mr Larson. That’s not all. Pro golfer Lee Trevino, legendary sports broadcaster Verne Lundquist, and Jack Giarraputo, as well as professional golfer and sports broadcaster Mark Lye all appeared in the movie as themselves.

What is the plot of the sequel?

Netflix has not revealed any information about the plot of Happy Gilmore 2. But, it looks like the story will pick up a few years later from where the first movie ended. Speaking on the sequel, Sandler said, “The movie itself just picks up an older guy who’s played golf a long time.” He went on to add, “And some stuff has gone on in his life. He’s a little different. He’s a bit of a mess. And then we just try to get his cooking again”. One confirmation we did get from the actor, however, was that the movie is going to be “funny as hell”.

Can’t wait for the sequel? Get your fix of Happy Gilmore here.

(Main and featured image: Netflix)