Photographs of Ben Stiller on the set of the highly anticipated sequel, “Happy Gilmore 2,” are sure to excite fans of the original 1996 comedy classic. On Friday, the legendary actor filmed scenes alongside the movie’s star, Adam Sandler, in Kearny, New Jersey.
Stiller’s appearance confirms long-running rumors that he will be reprising his role as the dastardly nursing home orderly, Hal L.—a character fans will remember for his harsh treatment of Happy’s beloved grandmother. Almost 30 years after the original film, Stiller’s Hal L. still sports his signature horseshoe mustache and voluminous locks, though they appear to have taken on a slightly grayer hue this time around.
Stiller stood alongside his stunt double, Greg Fitzpatrick, wearing Hal’s familiar blue-patterned shirt, yellow-tinted glasses, and a black waistcoat with a name badge, suggesting that the character might be involved in some action sequences in the sequel.
On set, we spotted Adam Sandler, who is co-writing and producing the film, though he didn’t appear to be actively filming at the time. Instead, the 58-year-old actor was seen sipping coffee and chatting with the crew, sporting a casual gray hoodie.
Also seen on set was writer Tim Herlihy, who donned a red hoodie and seemed to be in excellent spirits as he mingled with the production team. Interestingly, Michael Papajohn, who previously served as Sandler’s stunt double in the 1998 film “The Waterboy,” was also spotted on the “Happy Gilmore 2” set, this time wearing an FBI uniform.
This latest sighting comes just weeks after Sandler teased fans about the highly anticipated sequel during an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” At the time, the actor confirmed that the film was in the works, saying, “We’re getting ready to shoot it in New Jersey in a couple of weeks.”
Sandler went on to reassure fans that he and his team had worked hard on the script, stating, “We didn’t want to let anybody down. People have been asking me for a long time, ‘Do Happy Gilmore 2,’ and I was always like, ‘Nah, I’ll only let you down,’ but then me and my buddy came up with an idea; we’re really excited about it.”
In addition to Sandler and Stiller, the “Happy Gilmore 2” cast is shaping up to be a star-studded affair. Christopher McDonald will return as the villainous Shooter McGavin, and Julie Bowen will reprise her role as Happy’s love interest, Virginia Venit.
Newcomers to the franchise include Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican rapper who has been making waves in the acting world, and Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, who is making his foray into Hollywood.
Unexpectedly, reports indicate that the highly anticipated sequel will also feature a “comedic” cameo from none other than Eminem. With such a talented ensemble, it’s evident that the team behind “Happy Gilmore 2” is making every effort to uphold the legacy of the original. Fans of the franchise will undoubtedly be eager to see what hijinks await Happy Gilmore and his cohorts when the film finally hits Netflix in 2025.