The Grown Ups gang has finally found another excuse to get together. More than 13 years after the second film, production is officially underway on Grown Ups 3, with Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider heading back for another round of questionable decisions, family chaos and whatever qualifies as an “ultimate adventure” once the kids have finally grown up.
Netflix announced that cameras are rolling in New Jersey and released the first images of the enormous ensemble together, including Salma Hayek Pinault, Maya Rudolph and Maria Bello. Sandler shared the reunion himself with a simple message: “We missed you!”
Netflix’s Tudum has also revealed just how deep the returning cast goes, while confirming several newcomers and the basic premise for the long-awaited threequel. So, after more than a decade away, here’s what to know about Grown Ups 3.
Rob Schneider Is Back, Completing the Original Five
Sandler returns as Lenny Feder alongside Kevin James as Eric Lamonsoff, Chris Rock as Kurt McKenzie, David Spade as Marcus Higgins and Schneider as Rob Hilliard.
Schneider did not appear in 2013’s Grown Ups 2, making his return one of the more notable additions to the threequel.
Their better halves are largely back as well. Salma Hayek Pinault returns as Lenny’s wife Roxanne, Maya Rudolph reprises her role as Deanne and Maria Bello is back as Sally.
If you were hoping Netflix would simply round up half of Adam Sandler’s contact list and point a camera at them, good news: they appear to have done precisely that.
The Kids Have Grown Up. That Apparently Means Freedom.
Netflix is keeping the actual plot under wraps for now, but it has released one very Sandler-friendly logline:
“Now that their kids are all grown up, the gang is finally free to go on the ultimate adventure.”
The first Grown Ups saw the childhood friends reunite with their families over the July 4 weekend following the death of their former basketball coach. Grown Ups 2 moved the Feder family back to Lenny’s hometown and unleashed everything from old rivals to a particularly aggressive deer.
What constitutes the “ultimate adventure” this time remains a mystery.
The Returning Cast Is Huge
The five leads are just the beginning. Netflix looks to have checked the guest list from both previous films and called almost everybody who might still have the number.
Steve Buscemi is returning as Wiley, Jackie Sandler is back as Jackie and Shaquille O’Neal reprises his role as Officer Fluzoo. Colin Quinn returns as Dickie Bailey, Tim Meadows as Malcolm, Cheri Oteri as Penny, Ellen Cleghorne as Mary Fluzoo and Nick Swardson as Nick.
The younger generation is getting a substantial reunion of its own. Jake Goldberg returns as Greg and Alexys Nycole Sanchez as Becky, while Sandler’s real-life daughters Sadie Sandler and Sunny Sandler are also back.
Ada-Nicole Sanger returns as Donna, Morgan Gingerich as Bean, Kaleo Elam as Ronnie, Nadji Jeter as Andre and Kamil McFadden as Bumpty.
David Mattle has also been announced among the cast.
In other words, Grown Ups 3 appears determined to answer a question nobody was asking: exactly how many people can Adam Sandler fit into one comedy?
Julie Bowen Is Joining the Madness
There are some new faces entering the franchise as well, with Julie Bowen, Deon Cole and Bailee Madison officially joining the cast. Netflix has not yet revealed who any of them are playing.
Bowen, of course, has plenty of Sandler history. She played Virginia Venit opposite him in 1996’s Happy Gilmore and recently returned for Netflix sequel Happy Gilmore 2. Madison also has Sandler experience, having appeared in the 2011 comedy Just Go with It.
Yes, this means Grown Ups 3 contains Salma Hayek Pinault as Sandler’s Grown Ups wife, Bowen as his Happy Gilmore love interest and Jackie Sandler, his actual wife. Somewhere, a family tree has given up.
Cameron Boyce’s Absence Will Be Felt
Cameron Boyce, who played Lenny and Roxanne’s son Keith in both previous films, died in 2019 at the age of 20. Netflix has not revealed whether Grown Ups 3 will address Keith’s absence within the story.
Boyce had been close to Sandler and was originally expected to appear in Hubie Halloween before his death. Sandler’s 2020 Netflix comedy ultimately included a dedication honouring the young actor, describing him as one of the “kindest, coolest, funniest, and most talented kids” they knew.
The Happy Gilmore 2 Director Is Taking Over
Kyle Newacheck is directing Grown Ups 3, taking over from Dennis Dugan, who helmed both previous films. Newacheck recently directed Sandler in Netflix’s Happy Gilmore 2.
Sandler has written the screenplay with longtime collaborator Tim Herlihy. The pair previously co-wrote Grown Ups 2 and have worked together on a lengthy list of Sandler projects, including Happy Gilmore 2 and Hubie Halloween.
Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Jack Giarraputo and Herlihy are producing. Kevin Grady, Fred Wolf, Jackie Shenoo, Aidan Elliott, Kristen Ploucha, Sarah Sarandos and Judit Maull serve as executive producers.
Netflix is producing the film in partnership with Sony Pictures.
Grown Ups Has Been Dormant for 13 Years, Not Forgotten
The gap between sequels may be lengthy, but the first two films certainly gave Sandler and company a financial reason to revisit the series.
Sony Pictures released the original Grown Ups theatrically in 2010. Centred on five childhood friends reuniting following the death of their former basketball coach, the comedy grossed more than US$270 million worldwide.
That success led to Grown Ups 2 in 2013, which brought the families back together while adding the likes of Taylor Lautner, Andy Samberg and Patrick Schwarzenegger to the mayhem.
Critics were hardly lining up to crown either film a comedy masterpiece, but audiences turned both into sizeable theatrical hits.
When Will Grown Ups 3 Be Released?
There is no release date yet.
Production is currently underway in New Jersey, with Grown Ups 3 heading directly to Netflix rather than receiving the traditional Sony theatrical rollout of its predecessors. For now, the cameras are rolling, the gang is back and Netflix has one very crowded Sandler comedy on its hands.
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