Since Happy Gilmore hit the big screen in 1996 with his wild swing and short temperament, the sequel has looked like it’s been buried in the wild.
However, his reluctance to Adam Sandler’s sequel did not stop Christopher McDonald. This is the actor who plays the popular villain shooter McGavin. McDonald’s character’s Persona lives on in X, with the words “former #1 golfer and all-around bad guy in the world.”
“I’ve been a campaign for about 29 years to get this done,” he told ESPN.
However, the star comedian was not upset.
“For 28 years, I said, ‘What are you talking about? No,'” Sandler recently said, “Good Morning America.” “And all of a sudden I was like, ‘Maybe.’ ”
“He says, ‘I won’t do a sequel,’ and he started doing it like ‘Grown 2’ and I went to ‘ahem’. Let’s redecorate this,” McDonald said. “That has a lot of life left.”
Finally, the shooter’s swing found green.
The original “Happy Gilmore 2” released on Netflix on Friday over 10,500 days was packed with all the sensations of the star cameo and the first film. This time, Bad Bunny will join the cast as Happy’s new caddy, with Gilmore teeing off along with golf stars such as two-time Masters champion Scotty Scheffler and two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas.
Pads are made. The caddy is strangled. Happy Place is tapped again.
“It’s brought a lot of laughter and joy to people over the years. It’s a blessing of a film like this. And I don’t think any of us expected it, as I say. “And beyond the month when people make sequels and get happy when they love the film so much. And I think we’re loyal to the first one.”
Director Kyle Newarcheck was 12 years old when the original film was released and was “very nervous” about the film’s revisit.
“I don’t think I’m telling you how many times I’ve seen it,” Newacheck told ESPN.
He did the extra work to make the golf scene feel authentic. He said he knew golf “from his arm length” and leaned over David Bernstein, the first assistant director he played frequently. Dan Baker, a nearly 17-year-old member of PGA of America, was also on the set, leading Newacheck on what Golf looks like on screen.
“I saw a lot of footage and broke it in terms of how they shot it. Thankfully, a lot of us had to look like it was a TV,” Newacheck told ESPN. “So I was able to almost emulate the way they film it on TV with a movie camera.”
He focuses on how television broadcasts used zoom and frame shots, replicating those techniques, acting as if Sandler was playing at a PGA event that aired. PGA Cameraman Will Baker helped track the ball by manipulating the 1000mm zoom used during the tournament.
“Thousands of people out there cheering and screaming for Happy Gilmore. The golfers and cameras are set up in the same way as they would set up at a PGA event…” “For a while, we really felt we were part of sports broadcasting.”
Baker died tragically in a car accident in December.
Unable to be interviewed because of the story, Sandler revealed to Entertainment Tonight that the idea for a sequel had not surfaced until about two years ago. Follow-up rumors began to spiral in March 2024 when McDonald spoke to the radio show about his recent encounter with Sandler.
McDonald said Sandler invited him to his “Adam Sandler: Love” show and called him behind the scenes after the performance.
“I’m going backstage, he’s going, ‘Wait, wait, you’re going to love this. Shooter, come here.’ Showing the first page of the new script,” recalled McDonald. “I said, ‘Are you kidding me? Are you saying we’re finally doing this?”
Netflix confirmed that “Happy Gilmore 2” was ongoing in May 2024, with McDonald and Julie Bowen re-route their roles.
“It’s just amazing,” Bowen told ESPN about returning to Virginia Venitt’s shoes. “It feels like I’m going home.”
Sandler’s wife and two daughters also appear in the film. The original cast members who later died, including Carl Weather and Bob Barker, are remembered on screen.
Sandler told ET that the story focuses on “a sports person who is older and has heartache to try to get back to what he loves.”
The film’s trailer shows Sandler embarking on his comeback. While Golf is best at taking the tee, he says:
Four consecutive shots feature three of the golf’s most well-known names: Rory McIlroy, Scheffler and Bryson Dechambeau. In the next scene, Sandler seeks advice from another golf legend, John Daly. The winner of the 1995 Open Championship lives in the Sandler basement of the film, and according to New Heckick, it was “really important” in the family scene.
The 5-second sequence highlights the possible reality of “Happy Gilmore 2.” Sandler may not be the most famous member of the cast.
“Every day someone will show up and we’ll hang out,” he said.
Like any other film, the team measured interest and availability. Cameos were scheduled around those windows – “a huge process,” said Newarcheck.
The film’s acclaimed actors include the golf legend Who’s Who. Lee Trevino’s Fred Couple consumes multiple blueberry jubilees in the film, while Corey Pavin and Jack Nicklaus are one of the biggest names group in the game sitting together in one scene.
At one point, Nicklaus asks for “half-iced tea and half lemonade” from the server – played by Kansas City chief star Travisquels.
“Arnold Palmer,” Kelse answers, referring to the famous drink, named after the golf icon. “No, no, there’s no Jack Nicklaus, but I get a lot of it,” Nicklaus replies.
The cast also includes current golf stars such as Keegan Bradley, Xander Schaufele and Jordans Piece.
“It’s a huge deal to get those guys and they all stepped up and did a great job and lended their time,” McDonald said. “And that was a real blessing for the film because it makes it so richer, and now I can call them my friend.
We also created a seamless golf scene.
“To see how they shake the club, oh, they can kill it,” McDonald said. “It’s so direct, so I thought, ‘OK, I’m not worth it. You guys control.’ Incredibly good. ”
From the course, the celebrity cast brought their own talent.
Rappers Eminem, Kid Cudy, Camron and Post Malone will all be featured alongside Guy Fieri, Alix Earl, Sean Evans, WNBA star Kelsey Plum and former Heisman winner Reggie Bush.
Eminem’s cameo scene was a challenge, Newarcheck said, but he “played it wonderfully.” Another musician stood out at McDonald’s.
“I really think Bad Bunny was hysterical,” he said. “He’s incredible, but he did it in a way that really steals some scenes.”
Returning to the world of Happy Gilmore, it brought waves of nostalgia not only for the fans, but also for the cast and crew. For many, being present on set alongside golf’s biggest icons and comedy legends was a surreal experience that underscored the film’s cultural stay.
The sentiment was emphasized when McDonald first visited the set. He hadn’t filmed the scene, but as the crew worked on setting up the lights, he saw the opportunity and took a walk in a room full of golf royals.
To my surprise, the legend was dealt with he Like an icon.
Nicklaus began playing McDonald’s popular celebration, “Use the gun to go shooter.” Sir Nick Faldo also tried to pull that off. The young golfer was visibly excited when he saw McDonald’s.
“Everyone was in that happy mood, so when they saw the shooter they were so welcoming me… I will never forget that,” McDonald said. “It was a truly, really, really, really, really, really amazing moment.”
This response speaks to the volume of what the film has meant over the years, especially for players who dream of golf, where the film once grew bigger than life.
Schaeffler said it was “certainly” part of golf culture. Thomas called his participation “a very cool experience.” Tony Finau, another member of the sequel’s cast, added that he felt it was surreal.
“I think ‘Happy Gilmore’ is one of the greatest comedies of all time,” Finau said. “I didn’t even have a dream that something like this could happen in order to be part of the sequel.”
The film’s legacy felt like the right move almost 30 years later. According to box office revenue, the original film sold $38 million for over $18 million, but its true value is measured by the way it resonates with audiences across generations.
Bowen can’t handle what the film has evolved. For her, “Happy Gilmore” is “evidence of a father, and that is evidence of a child,” emphasizing its cultural significance.
“There’s no evidence of dad and children,” she said. “It’s amazing and I’m very fortunate to be part of it.”
The sequel pays homage to its multi-generational charm, while respecting what has come before. McDonald’s campaign paid off, resulting in a “incredible” experience for the 70-year-old actor.
“I was so happy to be a part of it,” McDonald said. “That means we may be able to hit our hands a big hit again.”
What’s more appropriate? Probably a gold jacket.