Latest news with #CarlWeathers
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Happy Gilmore 2 Is Missing Carl Weathers And More. How The Cast Felt About Memorializing The OG Actors Who Died Before The Sequel
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Spoilers ahead for Happy Gilmore 2. Adam Sandler is a beloved comedian and actor, who has put out a number of truly iconic movies throughout the years. In the past few years he's been releasing a number of projects for those with a Netflix subscription, and the latest upcoming Adam Sandler movie to finally arrive is Happy Gilmore 2. The sequel is a love letter to the original, and pays homage to Carl Weathers and other actors who died before it could begin production. And actor Christopher McDonald aka Shooter McGavin spoke to CinemaBlend about the way the sequel honors them. Happy Gilmore is one of the best Adam Sandler movies in my opinion, so I was thrilled when I got to speak to Sandman and and other members of the cast ahead of the sequel's release. The sequel features a ton of returning characters, and also pays tribute to those who are no longer with us. As you can see in the video above, I spoke to McDonald about this aspect of the film, where he told me: Talk about the heart of this movie. We have our big first meeting of Gilmore and McGavin and its an homage to the people we've lost for this second movie because we didn't do it quick enough. It's been 29 years since the original Happy Gilmore, and unfortunately we've seen a number of beloved actors from the original move pass away during that time. And while Carl Weathers famously died 2024, he isn't the only one that's died. Frances Bay passed away in 2011 and Joe Flattery followed suit in 2024. Additionally, Richard Kiel died back in 2014 at the age of 74. Adam Sandler and company pays respect to every one of these actors throughout Happy Gilmore 2, which helps add to the movie's heart. Happy has a photo of his Grandma Gilmore in his car, while Flattery and Kiel both appear in flashbacks and get spiritual successors in the new movie. What's more, the sequel's ending sees all the characters who died wave goodbye to Happy. While this mirrors the original film's bonkers ending, it has even more meaning given the real-life losses. Chris McDonald shared his reaction to the way this was included in the sequel, telling me: It was a beautiful way to do it in a classy way and send our prayers and gratitude to them. Things like that made this movie really exceptional in a lot of ways. And I love the heart it's brought to this story. He's not wrong. CinemaBlend's review of Happy Gilmore 2 (which I personally wrote) also praised how much heart is in the goofy comedy. It does this in big ways by honoring actors from the original who passed away (including Bob Barker), as well as the main story itself. When we meet Happy after all these years, he's in sorry shape. He's an alcoholic, using booze to numb the guilt and grief of Virginia's death. But as the Happy Gilmore 2 trailer shows, he decides to sober up and get back to golfing in order to help his beloved daughter Vienna go abroad to ballet school. What follows is a family-driven story, including the ways that Julie Bowen's Virginia is included despite her character's death. McDonald spoke on that subject as well, offering: Because it's all about family, it's all about love and keeping it together. And what you have to do to go the extra mile. That's a great story in every American movie. It's a great lesson and he does it with such great form. I'm so happy for him because it's really an honor to be in this kind of a movie that makes you laugh and also gets you welled up a little bit. He's not wrong. Maybe I'm just a softie or a hardcore Happy Gilmore fan (or both), but I found myself surprisingly emotional at a few points during the sequel. In my opinion that's always been one of Adam Sandler's biggest strengths; while he creates silly, goofy movies, there's usually a story with heart underneath all the laughs. Happy Gilmore 2 is available now on Netflix as part of the 2025 movie release list. Sandler has been on a roll on the streaming service, so we'll have to see if this long-awaited sequel has the same success. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We Had A Painful Change': Adam Sandler Got Candid About Having To Rewrite A Ton Of Happy Gilmore 2 After Carl Weathers' Death
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Next week, Adam Sandler fans will finally get the movie sequel they've been waiting for. Happy Gilmore 2 will come to Netflix on July 25, and in addition to a host of celebrity cameos that we expect to see, several of the favorite characters from the first film will also return. Unfortunately, one important character will be conspicuous by his absence. Carl Weathers, who played Chubbs Peterson in the first Happy Gilmore, passed away in 2024 and thus was not able to be part of the sequel. Speaking with Collider, Sandler reveals that Weathers' death forced huge changes in the new movie, as Chubbs was originally set to be a significant part of the sequel. Sandler said… We had a painful change. Carl Weathers had a massive part. I would talk to Carl, and we were excited, and then Carl passed away. We had to rewrite a lot of the stuff, and even what the story was. We made a lot of nice references to how great Chubbs was in the movie. That was the biggest change. It sounds like the version of Happy Gilmore 2 we will watch with a Netflix subscription when it premieres on the 2025 movie schedule is a very different film from the one we would have gotten if Carl Weathers were still with us. Adam Sandler says the entire story had to change following Weathers' death. While Chubbs will still be in the movie in spirit, as the SNL alum says, the character will be referenced throughout the movie, things had to change when the character couldn't be on camera. Adam Sandler revealed an early idea for Happy Gilmore 2, that actually would have included the character of Chubbs having died, but also would have required Carl Weathers' participation. The star says the original concept for the film would have focused on Chubbs' son, but would have also included Chubbs himself in a series of dream sequences. Sandler said… In the first version that we came up with, he had a son. He was coming back to me a lot in my dreams, and he had a son who was mad at Happy for causing the death of daddy. It's unclear if this was the concept for Happy Gilmore 2 when Carl Weathers passed away, or if this idea had already been changed or scrapped before that point. Happy Gilmore 2 had been rumored for years prior to its official announcement, and likely went through a lot of changes. Either way, things had to change once Weathers died, forcing what sounds like a complete overhaul into the movie that we're getting. The Happy Gilmore 2 trailer reveals that actor Lavell Crawford will be playing the son of Chubbs Peterson, who will also have a prosthetic hand like his father. The scene confirms that Chubbs has passed away. There's also a scene with the returning Shooter McGavin that appears to take place in a cemetery, which might also be a scene dealing with Chubbs. While Carl Weathers may not be part of Happy Gilmore 2 as originally intended, the actor will clearly be remembered in the story and missed by the fans.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Happy Gilmore 2' Launches With Tie-In Golf Video Game on Netflix
Adam Sandler fans should keep their clubs — er, remotes, out when they finish watching 'Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix, so they can easily switch over to play the streamer's new tie-in video game, 'Happy Gilmore: Golf Mayhem '98 Demo.' Available now on Netflix via TVs and desktop, the Easter Egg video game is titled 'Happy Gilmore: Golf Mayhem '98 Demo' and, like the streamer's other video game offerings, is free for all Netflix subscribers. More from Variety 'Happy Gilmore 2' Review: Adam Sandler Tees Off a Happy Orgy of Raucous Fan-Service Nostalgia Adam Sandler on Casting 'Unbelievably Funny' Bad Bunny and Travis Kelce in 'Happy Gilmore 2' and Chances of a 'Billy Madison' Sequel: 'Let's Write It Tonight!' Adam Sandler Says 'Happy Gilmore 2' Had a 'Massive Part' for Carl Weathers Before His Death: 'We Had to Rewrite a Lot of Stuff' Per Netflix's description for 'Happy Gilmore: Golf Mayhem '98 Demo,' 'When you watch the film, there's an opening montage of Happy's last 30 years, including him becoming a video game star – and we made that into a playable demo. It's a short, retro game experience where you can golf, fight familiar foes 'Mortal Kombat'-style, and cause chaos around the golf course in full-on 90s era gaming vibes.' Developed by Amber, the video game's launch on Netflix comes on the heels of the streaming service partnering with Spotify for a different interactive 'Happy Gilmore' experience: the 'Happy Gilmore 2 Tournament.' Available via the music streaming platform's app, the collab 'lets users swing through film-inspired golf challenges, complete with iconic easter eggs, audio clips, and a personalized playlist of 'Happy' tracks to soundtrack their next round and celebrate the film's upcoming release.' Netflix has been slowly building out its video game offering (mostly mobile titles, but more and and more that can be played on web and the TV, like 'Happy Gilmore' golf demo) over the past three years and now has more than 100 titles on offer. The streamer is increasingly focused on tie-in games based on its own IP, including 'Squid Game: Unleashed,' 'Black Mirror: Thronglets' and 'Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game,' and has been cutting down on its acquired indie titles. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Adam Sandler opens up 'painful change' in Happy Gilmore 2 after co-stars dies
Happy Gilmore 2's Adam Sandler has spoken out about the 'painful change' that was made to the movie after a beloved actor died before the film was released on Netflix. Happy Gilmore 2 pays tribute to Chubbs Peterson star Carl Weathers after the actor died last year. Fans of the cult classic were ecstatic as Adam Sandler returned to his role as the notoriously hot-headed golfer in Happy Gilmore, with the sequel dropping on Netflix this week to much fanfare. While many familiar faces, such as Julie Bowen from Modern Family and Ben Stiller from Meet the Fockers, made a comeback, some original cast members couldn't return. Carl Weathers, famed for his portrayal of Apollo Creed in the Rocky series, was known for his role as Happy's coach Chubbs Peterson in the first film. Chubbs, memorable for his prosthetic hand after an alligator attack, met his end in the original movie when he tumbled out of a window upon encountering the beast once more. Chubbs was intended to reappear in dream sequences in the follow-up film. However, Weathers' untimely passing last year at 76 meant that Sandler had to make significant alterations to the script. In a conversation with Collider, Sandler revealed, "We had a painful change. Carl Weathers had a massive part. "I would talk to Carl, and we were excited, and then Carl passed away. We had to rewrite a lot of the stuff, and even what the story was." Despite this setback, Sandler ensured that Weathers was honoured in Happy Gilmore 2, keeping his spirit alive in the sequel. After assaulting Happy at the conclusion of the original film, Shooter had been confined to a mental institution for the past 30 years. This led to a lot of suppressed rage when they met again, resulting in a brawl in a graveyard surrounded by tombstones, including one dedicated to Weathers' character Chubbs Peterson. Another tombstone was for game show host Bob Barker, who had his own memorable fight scene in Happy Gilmore nearly three decades ago, but sadly, he passed away in 2023. Weathers was also honoured with a tribute in the form of his son, Slim Peterson, portrayed by comedian Lavell Crawford. And just like his father, Slim also had a wooden hand, although he lost his in a vending machine mishap rather than to an alligator.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Julie Bowen Reacts To Her Famous Happy Gilmore Lingerie Scene (And Its Big Return In The Sequel)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Spoilers ahead for Happy Gilmore 2. Adam Sandler has a number of beloved movies on his long resume, including Happy Gilmore. The 1996 sports comedy (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) is arguably one of Sandler's best rom-coms, thanks to the title character's love story with Julie Bowen's Virginia Venit. She reprised that role for Happy Gilmore 2, and recently spoke to CinemaBlend about her reaction to the OG movie's lingerie scene... and how it factored into the sequel. What we knew about Happy Gilmore 2 has been limited ahead its release on Netflix, with Sandman and the gang trying to guard the long-awaited sequel's secrets. That includes the way Virginia is used, a huge twist comes her way early on in the Adam Sandler movie. As you can see in the video above, I had the privilege of speaking with the cast ahead of the sequel's release, where I asked Bowen about that iconic lingerie scene from the original. She told me: When I read it in the first script it's what made me love the first script. You don't know how great those performances are going to be. You don't know they're actually gonna get Carl Weathers or anything. You're just reading it going 'I think it's funny but I'm not sure.' And I get to that scene and I laughed out loud 30 years ago at two pitchers of beer. And I thought 'I want this.' She's not wrong. Virginia is a buttoned-up professional for Happy Gilmore, so seeing her in lingerie carrying two huge pitchers of beer in the "Happy Place" was a hilarious departure. And per our conversation, that was one of the big reasons that the Modern Family star wanted to sign onto the 1996 original. Happy Gilmore 2 is chock-full of easter eggs and references to the original movie, with Sandler even using the same soundtrack. We also briefly see OG Virginia back in the lingerie, with current-day Bowen getting to share a scene with her younger self. In our same interview, she spoke more about that iconic scene, sharing: I've always seen that as hilarious and funny and a sendup of sex pinups. I never felt objectified by that at all. So when it's coming back I was like 'I don't know if I can still put it on.' That's the only thing I was afraid of. Of course, Bowen didn't actually have to suit back up in the white lingerie. Or if she did, it ended up on the cutting room floor. Instead we got to see both version of Virginia share the screen together. And it was yet another way that Happy Gilmore 2 feels like a love letter to the original. Julie Bowen was only featured briefly in Happy Gilmore 2's trailer, and it becomes clear early onto the movie. Still, it's exciting that so many original actors are back for the sequel, including Christopher McDonald, Kevin Nealon, Dan Patrick and Verne Lundquist. In our interview Julie Bowen further shared her support of Virginia's appearance in the "Happy Place", telling me: I always felt completely respected and in control of all of it. Anticipation for the long-awaited comedy is high, and the original Happy Gilmore has been trending on Netflix ahead of its release. Julie Bowen returning as Virginia proved to fans that the spirit of the first movie would continue, and I can tell you there are countless references and easter eggs to the first one. Happy Gilmore 2 will arrive on Netflix on July 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list. We'll just have to see if the movie inspires Adam Sandler to produce more sequels to his beloved '90s hits like Billy Madison or The Waterboy. Solve the daily Crossword
