Grown Ups 3 officially in development at Netflix

Netflix has confirmed that work is underway on Grown Ups 3, more than a decade after the previous film. The announcement surfaced during Netflix’s upfront presentation, where it was revealed that Adam Sandler is returning for the new movie. Grown Ups 3 will be directed by Kyle Newacheck, who previously directed Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2.

The script for Grown Ups 3 is being written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy. That pairing is no surprise, as Herlihy has been a frequent writing partner for Sandler since the 1990s. At this stage, no plot or cast details have been announced, but the film appears to be a priority for Netflix given the success of Happy Gilmore 2.

Happy Gilmore 2 had the biggest opening weekend in the United States for a Netflix film, underscoring the value of Sandler and his IP for the streaming service. The first Grown Ups film was released in 2010 and featured a star-studded cast including Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider, following a group of old friends who reunite over the Fourth of July weekend.

Although Grown Ups was critically panned with a 4/10 rating, it became a box office success and led to a financially successful sequel in 2013. A third Grown Ups film has been floated as a possibility multiple times over the years, but nothing formal had ever been announced.

Cast details

While casting has not been confirmed, it is likely that Sandler, James, Rock, Spade, and Schneider will reprise their roles. One complication is the role of Cameron Boyce, who played Sandler’s character’s son in the Grown Ups films. Boyce died in 2020 after an epileptic seizure in his sleep, and it is currently unclear how the creative team will handle his character in the story.

Adam Sandler’s success on Netflix

Adam Sandler has seen significant success on Netflix in recent years. His films, including Happy Gilmore 2, have boosted the streamer’s viewership, showing that his popularity with audiences remains strong. Netflix’s choices around Sandler’s projects are crucial to its strategy in the competitive streaming market.

Development of Grown Ups 3

The development of Grown Ups 3 is an interesting continuation of the enduring popularity of the Grown Ups franchise. It’s clear that the combination of the familiar cast and the creative partnership between Sandler and Herlihy could attract a large audience. Even though details are scarce, the return of these beloved characters has been welcomed by many fans.