Last May, Netflix announced a sequel to Terminagolf, the 1996 film starring Adam Sandler. He plays there Happy Gilmore, a hockey player who becomes a golfer to save his grandmother’s house. But of course the techniques are not the same!
If you don’t know the name of this movie, that’s totally fine. In France, Terminagolf did not pass the “cinema” box and was offered straight to DVD… in 1999. However, on the other side of the Atlantic, this sports comedy was a commercial success. Despite mixed reviews from the press and audiences, the feature film earned 40 million GEL for an investment of 12 million.
It must be said that at that time Adam Sandler already had a little popularity. He, who was recently fired from the show SNL, began working on film scripts with his old classmate and friend Tim Herlihy, and Terminagolf was one of the first to see the light of day. Christopher MacDonald (who initially turned down the role because he was tired of playing bad guys in movies), Julie Bowen and Carl Weathers quickly joined the project.
If Terminagolf has achieved cult film status in the United States, it’s because it’s especially popular with golf fans, who rank it among the best in the genre. It must be said that Sandler and Herlihy reworked the script 5 times and attended several tournaments to make it as realistic a comedy as possible. The “Happy Gilmore Swing” that the main character takes is very famous among players.
Sand is a good vein
May 2024 Netflix announces the start of production on Terminagolf 2 (the original version of Happy Gilmore 2). Two years earlier, Adam Sandler actually revealed that he had ideas for a sequel and that his hero would be playing in a tournament…for adults.
It’s no surprise to see Netflix banking on this sequel, even if it only has potential in certain territories, as the actor is the goose that lays the golden eggs for the platform. The two parties have been collaborating for several years, with many big hits such as Murder Mystery. It is also the director of the latter comedy, Kyle Newachek, who will work behind the camera. Shooting should begin next September for a 2025 launch.
Until then, let’s hope Netflix acquires the rights to the first installment in all territories so it can (re)discover Terminagolf…
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
