Happy Gilmore 2 Tees Off: Sandler Confirms Kelce & Safdie Join Cast
Adam Sandler has confirmed that filming for the long-awaited sequel to his 1996 comedy classic, "Happy Gilmore", is set to begin in just a few weeks. The news was announced during an appearance on "The Tonight Show", with Sandler revealing that the sequel will be shot in New Jersey and feature a cast that includes both real-life professional golfers and celebrity cameos, such as Travis Kelce.
"Weâre going to do 'Happy Gilmore', thank you. This is happening," Sandler declared. "Weâre getting ready to shoot it in New Jersey. We start in a couple weeks. Itâs good. We worked hard on the script. We didnât want to let anybody down. People have been asking me for a long time. Weâre really excited about it. We wrote our asses off. So many of the golfers are being nice and will be a part of it."
The news of Kelce's involvement was met with excitement by fans, who had previously expressed their desire to see the NFL star in the film. Kelce, who is making his foray into acting with roles in Ryan Murphy's FX series "Grotesquerie" and the Lionsgate action-comedy film "Loose Cannons", had previously declared his willingness to do "anything" to appear in the "Happy Gilmore" sequel.
"Travis has⦠he mentioned it, so we have a nice something for Travis," Sandler said of Kelce's role. "Heâs gonna come by. Heâs a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life. What a big, handsome guy. Funny and cool as hell. Heâs a stud and heâs so funny."
Sandler also confirmed the involvement of "Uncut Gems" director Benny Safdie in the sequel, stating that Safdie will have a "juicy part" in the film. Safdie, who has acted in his own films such as "Good Time" and other projects including "Obi-Wan Kenobi", "Oppenheimer" and "Are You There God? Itâs Me, Margaret", is no stranger to the big screen.
The original "Happy Gilmore" was a box office success, grossing nearly $40 million worldwide and solidifying Sandler's position as a major comedy star of the 1990s. The film centred on Happy Gilmore, a hockey player with anger management issues who discovers a talent for golf. Happy enters the professional golf circuit to win money to save his grandmother's house, where he faces off against the arrogant pro, Shooter McGavin, played by Christopher McDonald. The supporting cast featured Julie Bowen and the late Carl Weathers.
With the announcement of the sequel, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Happy Gilmore and the comedic hijinks that are sure to ensue. The presence of real-life golfers and the addition of new cast members like Kelce and Safdie promises a fresh and exciting take on the beloved character and his hilarious adventures.
