With an 85% audience score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Happy Gilmore is widely considered one of Adam Sandler's best comedy roles. The tale of an ice hockey pro turned unlikely golfer is a zero-to-hero sports tale with plenty of iconic moments, and even quadrupled its reported production budget with a $40 million return at the global 1996 box office. With legacy sequels becoming increasingly common in the current cinematic climate, it was only a matter of time before Sandler picked up his driver once more.
Scheduled for a July 25 release on Netflix, Happy Gilmore 2 promises fun and chaos for fans of the original and a new generation of viewers, perfectly illustrated by the film's notable ensemble cast. The recent passing of Carl Weathers sadly means one of the franchise favorites won't be able to return, although fans will still be treated to a blend of old and new faces, from Julie Bowen as Virginia Vent and Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin to the eye-catching additions of Bad Bunny, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Benny Safdie, and more.
Ahead of the legacy sequel's release, Shooter McGavin himself, McDonald, and the talented Safdie sat with Collider's Steve Weintraub to discuss all things Happy Gilmore 2, including working with real pro golfers such as Rory McIlroy and Will Zalatoris, being a fan of the original movie, as well as other projects from Grease 2 to The Smashing Machine.
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