In the first of Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups movies, old dear Gloria Noonan-Hilliard preferred that “in life, the first act is always exciting. The second act… that is where the depth comes in.” Whether Grown Ups was exciting — or indeed whether depth came in with Grown Ups 2 — is very much up for debate, but it does beg a question: what does life/a comedy franchise’s third act have in store? Honestly, we don’t know… but we’re about to find out. Per Deadline‘s reporting from Netflix Upfront, Grown Ups 3 is in the works at Netflix, with Happy Gilmore 2‘s Kyle Newacheck attached to direct.
Penned by Adam Sandler and long-time Happy Madison Productions collaborator Tim Herlihy, Grown Ups 3 — which is entering development some 13 years after the goofy summer vacation-based franchise’s last instalment — is set to reunite all of the major players from the original films, including Grown Ups 2 absentee Rob Schneider. A since-removed synopsis from Deadline‘s original write-up on the new film had suggested the gang would be heading to Europe for their latest adventure, but a Netflix source tells Empire that synopsis is not official and no plot details are confirmed as of yet. We do still know however that Lenny (Sandler), Marcus (David Spade), Rob (Schneider), Kurt (Chris Rock), Eric (Kevin James), and their significant others are all expected to return for the latest instalment in the franchise.
Considering the fact that Happy Gilmore 2 ranks among the most streamed movies of last year, notching up an insane 2.89 billion minuted viewed in its first week (whatever that actually means), it’s no surprise that Netflix — and Sandler’s Happy Madison label — have moved quickly to capitalise on a current trend in cosy comedy nostalgia. Who knows? Maybe life/Grown Ups‘ third act is where a decent script comes in. Watch this space!
