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1996’s Happy Gilmore is one of the most beloved golf films and Adam Sandler movies ever, and 26 years later, a sequel might be happening. Christopher McDonald, who played Shooter McGavin in the film, said this week that Sandler recently showed him a script for it.
“I saw Adam [Sandler] about two weeks ago. He says to me ‘McDonald, you’re gonna love this.’ How about that? He shows me the first draft of Happy Gilmore 2,” he told Cleveland’s 92.3 sports radio. McDonald went on to say that the radio show producers should maybe cut that part of the interview out, but it was left in, and McDonald said more.
“It’s in the works–fans demand it, dammit,” he said.
If there is indeed a script for Happy Gilmore 2, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be made, but it does sound like a positive development for fans awaiting a sequel. Sandler has a deal with Netflix, and Deadline’s sources said the film could end up there.
Sandler played the title character, Happy Gilmore, a failed hockey player whose powerful slapshot translated to a booming power on the golf course. The movie also featured the late Carl Weathers as Happy’s coach, along with Julie Bowen, Kevin Nealon, Ben Stiller, and Allen Covert. Frances Bay, who played Happy’s grandmother and was the entire reason Happy sought a career in professional golf to help save her house with prize money, passed away in 2011. The film also featured a memorable sequence where the late Bob Barker beats up Happy.
The film’s violence helped inspire developer Digital Eclipse to pitch a Happy Gilmore hybrid fighting and golf game, but unfortunately it never went anywhere.
Happy Gilmore celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021. To mark the occasion, Sandler performed his character’s iconic and unconventional swing in real life, and he’s still got it.
After Happy Gilmore, Sandler’s hot streak continued with The Wedding Singer (1998), The Waterboy (1998), Big Daddy (1999), Little Nicky (2000), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Mr. Deeds (2002), Anger Management (2003), 50 First Dates (2004), The Longest Yard (2005), and Click (2006), just to name a few. Sandler now has a rich deal with Netflix that covers numerous films, the latest of which was this month’s sci-fi drama Spaceman.
