It took almost thirty years, but Adam Sandler finally put the gold jacket back on.
Honestly, nobody thought it would happen. For decades, the idea of a sequel to the 1996 classic felt like one of those "maybe one day" pipe dreams that usually ends in a disappointing straight-to-DVD flop. But Netflix put up a massive $150 million budget, and suddenly, the casting Happy Gilmore 2 news started blowing up every feed from New Jersey to the PGA Tour.
The Shooter Problem: Bringing Back the Classics
You can't have Happy without Shooter McGavin. Period. Christopher McDonald is basically the reason the original worked so well; his seething, country-club arrogance was the perfect foil for Sandler’s hockey-style chaos. When he was spotted filming in New Jersey wearing an AC/DC shirt, fans lost it.
McDonald isn’t just a cameo here. He’s central to the story, which picks up with an older, slightly "messier" Happy trying to get his life back on track.
Who else returned?
- Julie Bowen is back as Virginia Venit. In this timeline, she and Happy actually stayed together and have a family.
- Ben Stiller reprised his role as Hal L., the nursing home orderly with the handlebar mustache. He’s traded the uniform for a biker outfit, but he's still just as terrifying.
- Kevin Nealon and Dennis Dugan (who directed the first one) show up to keep that 90s Happy Madison vibe alive.
The Wild Cards: Travis Kelce and Bad Bunny
This is where things get interesting—and where some fans were a bit skeptical.
Travis Kelce is everywhere lately, so his inclusion felt like a massive marketing play. But according to the cast, the guy can actually act. He plays a hotel employee who welcomes Happy back into the fold. It’s a bigger role than a simple "blink and you'll miss it" walk-on.
Then there’s Bad Bunny.
He plays a character named Oscar Mejías. Initially, he’s a busboy working under Kelce’s character, but he eventually becomes Happy’s caddie. It’s a subtle, almost quiet performance that balances out the screaming and club-throwing. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the "Un poquito" line is basically the new "Gold jacket, green jacket."
A Family Affair
Sandler’s daughters, Sunny and Sadie, have significant roles too. Sunny, specifically, has been praised for basically stealing scenes from her dad. It’s a tradition at this point—if Sandler is making a movie, the whole family is getting a paycheck.
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The production spent millions on extras and lodging in New Jersey, and they used that scale to cram in as many "wait, is that...?" moments as possible.
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We’re talking about Eminem, Margaret Qualley, and even golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Qualley actually admitted on The Tonight Show that she can't golf at all. Her husband, Jack Antonoff, apparently lied to Sandler to get her the part, telling him she was a natural. She ended up taking lessons just to survive a few days on set.
Why This Cast Matters for 2026
The sequel tackles the modern golf landscape, specifically the tension between the traditional tour and the new-money LIV Golf league (represented in the film by "Maxi-Golf").
By mixing the old guard like Christopher McDonald with global stars like Bad Bunny, the casting Happy Gilmore 2 strategy managed to bridge a thirty-year gap without feeling like a total nostalgia bait-and-switch. It’s a bigger, weirder, and much more expensive movie than the original, but the chemistry stays surprisingly intact.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans:
- Watch the Credits: The cameos aren't just in the main scenes; there are small gags tucked into the background of the tournament scenes.
- Check the Locations: If you’re in New Jersey, you can visit the real Beacon Hill Country Club or Fiddler's Elbow—most of the golf scenes were filmed at actual Garden State courses.
- Look for the Hal L. Connection: Ben Stiller’s character has now appeared in the original Happy Gilmore, Hubie Halloween, and this sequel, making him one of the few recurring characters in the "Sandler-verse."
The movie is streaming now on Netflix. If you grew up watching Happy fight a Bob Barker-sized hole in his ego, seeing him face off against a new generation of golfers is worth the subscription price alone.