Adam Sandler explains how he got Eminem to star in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’
Eminem landed a cameo role in Happy Gilmore 2, the long-awaited sequel to Adam Sandler’s classic 1996 film. Following its Netflix release on July 25th, Sandler has explained how the rapper came to star in the movie.
In the film, Slim Shady stars as Donald Floyd Jr, the son of the late heckler Donald Sr. While writing the movie, Em’s name came up in discussion for the role.
Sandler is friends with the rapper but initially didn’t want to bother him. Eventually, he gave in when he realised he’d be perfect for the character.
“I love Eminem,” he said on the Dan Patrick Show. “I’m friends with Eminem, but I don’t want to bother the man. And everybody kept saying, ‘Man, Eminem would be so funny in this part.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t want to ruin this guy’s time.’ He’s hanging out. He’s in Detroit. He’s doing his life making records.”
“And then I started going, ‘But it certainly would be funny if he did it.’ So then, all right, let me bug Marshall and give him a call and say, ‘Dude, I know it’s a pain in the ass, but it’s pretty funny. You mind shooting out to us for a day?’ And then he’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, send me the stuff.’ And then it goes like that. That’s how it goes down.”
Sandler previously starred alongside Em in the 2006 comedy film, Funny People, alongside Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, and Jason Schwartzman. They first crossed paths at Saturday Night Live, where he referenced Sandler’s 1998 movie The Waterboy.
“I remember the first time I met him,” he said. “I was at SNL. I wasn’t on the show anymore. And I was at a table with all my guys, and he was the musical guest with [Dr] Dre, and we were at the afterparty.
“Then Marshall walked by our table and he looked at me and I looked at him like, ‘Oh yeah, that kid’s pretty damn cool,’ and then he goes, ‘Bobby Boucher’, something like that. I go, ‘Oh yes, that’s what’s up, Marshall.’ And then we became friendly after that.”