Adam Sandler Says Carl Weathers Had a “Massive Role” in Happy Gilmore 2 Before His Death

Adam Sandler is opening up about the emotional creative changes behind the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2 — and how the unexpected passing of Carl Weathers forced a major rewrite of the highly anticipated Netflix sequel.

Weathers, who famously portrayed the fan-favorite Derick “Chubbs” Peterson in the 1996 sports comedy, was originally slated to return in a big way. Speaking to Collider, Sandler revealed that Chubbs was written into early drafts of the script in a meaningful and expanded role.

“We had a painful change,” Sandler admitted. “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.”

Sandler added that the updated script now features heartfelt tributes to Weathers and his beloved character.

“We made a lot of nice references to how great Chubbs was in the movie,” he said.

In one of the early versions of the sequel, Sandler revealed that Chubbs even had a son, and the character was set to return in Happy’s dreams throughout the film. The emotional tension was set to escalate when Chubbs’ son blamed Happy for his father’s death — a dark but comedic twist that now won’t come to life on screen.

Fans will remember Chubbs as the one-handed former golf pro who mentored Happy, only to die after an unfortunate fall involving a taxidermied alligator in the original movie. The scene became a cult classic and cemented Weathers as one of the most iconic side characters in Sandler’s movie universe.

🎥  "Happy Gilmore 2" Hits Netflix July 25

Directed by Kyle Newacheck, the sequel reunites Sandler with original cast members Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, and Ben Stiller, while welcoming newcomers like Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, Benny Safdie, Kym Whitley, and NFL star Travis Kelce.

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It’s clear that Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t just a nostalgia cash grab — it’s a love letter to the original and a tribute to one of its most unforgettable characters. Sandler’s decision to rework the story out of respect for Weathers speaks volumes about the bond they shared off screen. For fans of Chubbs, expect more than just a name-drop — expect legacy.