One day after Netflix publicly announced Adam Sandler's return for Grown Ups 3, Happy Madison Productions moved quickly on Saturday to release further details about the project, confirming that original cast members Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider are in advanced discussions to reprise their roles alongside Sandler. The announcement, shared via Netflix's official entertainment channels and Happy Madison's social media, was met with an immediate surge of fan enthusiasm across platforms.
Sources close to the production indicate that principal photography is being planned for late summer or early autumn 2026, with locations scouted across Massachusetts and Connecticut — consistent with the New England lakeside setting that anchored the first two films. Netflix, which has deepened its relationship with Sandler through a multi-picture deal over the past several years, is understood to be targeting a holiday 2027 streaming premiere to maximise family audience reach.
Sandler, who has delivered several of Netflix's most-watched comedy originals including Hubie Halloween and Murder Mystery 2, represents one of the streamer's most reliable draws. The Grown Ups franchise, which grossed over $160 million domestically on its 2010 original and $133 million on its 2013 sequel, carries significant nostalgic currency with millennial audiences now in their mid-thirties and forties — a demographic Netflix has been actively courting with legacy IP.
Director Dennis Dugan, who helmed both previous installments, has not been confirmed for the third entry, with industry insiders suggesting the production may pursue a different director to freshen the formula. A script, reportedly in a late draft stage, is said to centre on the original group reuniting for a milestone anniversary event, with storylines updated to reflect the characters ageing into their fifties.
Entertainment analysts noted that the timing of Saturday's cast confirmation — coming just 24 hours after the initial green-light news — suggests Netflix is deliberately building a news cycle around the property heading into the summer content calendar. Happy Madison is expected to release an official production start date and confirmed cast list within the coming fortnight.