Adam Sandler Says He ‘Worked Hard’ onHappy GilmoreSequel: ‘The Most Excited I’ve Been in Many Years’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Adam Sandler on Aug. 20, 2024.Photo:Todd Owyoung/NBC/Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC/Getty

Adam Sandleris excited to hit the links to shoot hisHappy Gilmoresequel!At the premiere of Sandler’s new comedy specialAdam Sandler: Love Youon Tuesday, Aug. 20, the comedian and actors tells PEOPLE that the prospect of filming the upcoming movie — a sequel to his fan-favorite 1996 golf comedy — has him revved up for production.“Well, we worked hard trying to write something that we thought people would have a good time with, and I’m more than excited, probably the most excited I’ve been in many years to shoot something,” he says.Reports began swirling that Sandler was developing a sequel toHappy Gilmoreback in March, when one of his costars in the original movie,Christopher McDonald, said during a radio interview onAudacy’s 92.3 The Fanthat Sandler had recently shown him “the first draft ofHappy Gilmore 2.” In April, Sandler’s longtime friendDrew Barrymorehinted that the movie was in the worksafter she said she spoke with him.Christopher McDonald, Adam Sandler and Allen Covert in 1996’s Happy Gilmore.RGR Collection/AlamyNetflix thenconfirmedthat Sandler is teaming up with the streamer for the forthcoming sequel on May 15. While little is known about the movie’s plotline, Sandler additionally revealed during his appearance onThe Tonight Showon Aug. 20 that Kansas City Chiefs tight endTravis Kelcewill beamong a number of athletes to cameo in the film.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“We didn’t want to let anybody down. People have been asking me for a long time, ‘DoHappy Gilmore 2,’ and I was always like, ‘Nah, I’ll only let you down,’ " Sandler said during that appearance. “But then me and my buddy Tim Herlihy, we came up with this idea, we’re really excited about it, we wrote our asses off, we’re continuing to try to make it a movie that you guys will like and I think it’s — we’re excited. So many golfers are being nice and they’re going to be a part of it and all.“Jackie Sandler and Adam Sandler on Aug. 20, 2024.Roy Rochlin/GettySandler additionally stated onThe Tonight Showthat he expects to begin filming the movie in New Jersey in the coming weeks and joked that he needs to further practice his character Happy Gilmore’ssignature golf swing.“You know, you have to hop, skip and hit, and I did it recently — it seems simple, so I tried it out. I fell, and I laid there for a while and then somebody brought me a lemonade and I just kind of laid down on the ground drinking a lemonade for a while,” he joked to host Jimmy Fallon. “But I’ll be ready; when it comes time to shoot, I’m a gamer, man.”

Adam Sandleris excited to hit the links to shoot hisHappy Gilmoresequel!

At the premiere of Sandler’s new comedy specialAdam Sandler: Love Youon Tuesday, Aug. 20, the comedian and actors tells PEOPLE that the prospect of filming the upcoming movie — a sequel to his fan-favorite 1996 golf comedy — has him revved up for production.

“Well, we worked hard trying to write something that we thought people would have a good time with, and I’m more than excited, probably the most excited I’ve been in many years to shoot something,” he says.

Reports began swirling that Sandler was developing a sequel toHappy Gilmoreback in March, when one of his costars in the original movie,Christopher McDonald, said during a radio interview onAudacy’s 92.3 The Fanthat Sandler had recently shown him “the first draft ofHappy Gilmore 2.” In April, Sandler’s longtime friendDrew Barrymorehinted that the movie was in the worksafter she said she spoke with him.

Christopher McDonald, Adam Sandler and Allen Covert in 1996’s Happy Gilmore.RGR Collection/Alamy

RGR Collection/Alamy

Netflix thenconfirmedthat Sandler is teaming up with the streamer for the forthcoming sequel on May 15. While little is known about the movie’s plotline, Sandler additionally revealed during his appearance onThe Tonight Showon Aug. 20 that Kansas City Chiefs tight endTravis Kelcewill beamong a number of athletes to cameo in the film.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“We didn’t want to let anybody down. People have been asking me for a long time, ‘DoHappy Gilmore 2,’ and I was always like, ‘Nah, I’ll only let you down,’ " Sandler said during that appearance. “But then me and my buddy Tim Herlihy, we came up with this idea, we’re really excited about it, we wrote our asses off, we’re continuing to try to make it a movie that you guys will like and I think it’s — we’re excited. So many golfers are being nice and they’re going to be a part of it and all.”

Jackie Sandler and Adam Sandler on Aug. 20, 2024.Roy Rochlin/Getty

Roy Rochlin/Getty

Sandler additionally stated onThe Tonight Showthat he expects to begin filming the movie in New Jersey in the coming weeks and joked that he needs to further practice his character Happy Gilmore’ssignature golf swing.

“You know, you have to hop, skip and hit, and I did it recently — it seems simple, so I tried it out. I fell, and I laid there for a while and then somebody brought me a lemonade and I just kind of laid down on the ground drinking a lemonade for a while,” he joked to host Jimmy Fallon. “But I’ll be ready; when it comes time to shoot, I’m a gamer, man.”

source: people.com