Netflix has confirmed that it is developing Grown Ups 3 with Adam Sandler, over a decade after the previous film. Netflix announced the news at its upfront presentation and revealed that Grown Ups 3 will be directed by Kyle Newacheck, who directed Sandler in last year’s Happy Gilmore 2. The script will be penned by Sandler and Tim Herlihy, who has been a frequent writing partner for Sandler since the 90s.
Plot details and casting are under wraps, but it wouldn’t be surprising if this is a priority for Netflix given the success of Happy Gilmore 2. That film had the biggest U.S. opening weekend for any Netflix film, showing how big of an asset Sandler and his IPs are for the streamer.
Grown Ups was released in 2010 and stars Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider as a group of old friends reuniting during Fourth of July weekend with their families. Although the film was critically panned (we gave it a 4/10), it was a box office hit and spawned a financially successful sequel in 2013. A third Grown Ups movie has been teased as a possibility numerous times over the years, but nothing was ever formally announced.
Although casting hasn’t been announced, it seems likely that Sandler, James, Rock, Spade, and Schneider will all reunite for the film. Unfortunately, it won’t be possible for every former cast member to reprise their roles. Actor Cameron Boyce, who played the son of Adam Sandler’s character in the Grown Ups films, died in 2020 after having a seizure in his sleep. It’s currently unclear how the creative team behind the films plan to handle his character’s role in the story.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
