Adam Sandler will soon be returning as one of his most beloved characters in Happy Gilmore 2, but the sequel will be a bittersweet reminder of one cast member who will not be joining him. Set to arrive on Netflix on July 25, 2025, Sandler’s forthcoming sequel picks up 30 years after his eponymous character won his first PGA Tour. Also joining the follow-up to the beloved comedy are original Happy Gilmore cast members Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, and Ben Stiller. Meanwhile, new cast members include Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny), Kym Whitley, and Sunny Sandler.

Sadly, however, one notable absence from the original movie will be that of Carl Weathers’ Derick “Chubbs” Peterson. Originally serving as the mentor to Sandler’s character in 1996’s Happy Gilmore, Weathers’ one-handed golfing legend is responsible for recognizing Happy’s golfing potential and putting him on the path to winning the PGA Tour championship. While his character is killed during the events of the first movie, Weathers later returned to reprise his role in 2000’s Little Nicky, as the heavenly dance instructor of Reese Witherspoon’s angelic Holly. Tragically, the beloved actor later pᴀssed away in February 2024, aged 76 years.

Happy Gilmore 2 Introduces The Son Of Carl Weathers’ Chubbs

Previous Adam Sandler Collaborator Lavell Crawford Will Be Appearing In The Role

Thanks to the latest Happy Gilmore 2 trailer, it is clear that Chubbs’ presence will continue to be felt throughout the new movie. After introducing a slew of both original and returning characters, Netflix’s trailer reveals that Happy will meet Chubbs’ son, played by comedian and previous Adam Sandler collaborator Lavell Crawford. Bearing the same kind of wooden hand once worn by Chubbs himself, Sandler’s character can be seen accidentally breaking the prosthetic’s fingers in a callback to an iconic moment from the first movie.

However, the connections between Crawford’s new character and Weathers’ original one do not end with his prosthetic hand alone. Fans of the previous movie will recall the sequence where Chubbs teaches Happy how to putt, and, by extension, introduces the notion of preparing himself mentally by going to his “happy place” at a miniature golf course. Similarly, the trailer also shows Happy meeting Chubbs’ son on a similar course, further building on his character’s ties to the original movie.

Chubbs’ Son Is Happy Gilmore 2’s Way Of Honoring Carl Weathers

Happy’s Original Mentor Was A Major Part Of The First Movie

While it is unclear whether Crawford’s role as Chubbs’ son will be on par with Weathers’ position as the original movie’s mentor figure, his limited appearance in the trailer suggests that his character will not have any significant screen time. Nonetheless, it is heartwarming to see that Sandler and the team behind Happy Gilmore 2 are deeply aware of the part that Weathers played in ensuring the first movie’s success, and have intentionally set out to honor both his character and the actor himself.

Following Weathers’ death in 2024, both Sandler and director Dennis Dugan made heartfelt statements regarding the actor’s pᴀssing, each fondly recalling his selfless nature and approachability (see via THR). With his unexpected casting in Happy Gilmore proving that Weathers possessed impeccable comedic sensibilities in addition to his action prowess, it is only fitting that the sequel finds some way to call back to one of his most recognizable and oft-quoted roles.

I’ve Got Mixed Emotions About Happy Gilmore 2 Introducing Chubbs’ Son

Carl Weathers Can Never Truly Be Replaced

Nonetheless, as heartwarming as Crawford’s introduction as Chubbs’ son is, his presence also serves as a stark reminder of what might have been had Weathers still been able to join the cast of Happy Gilmore 2 himself. With his character’s cameo appearance in Little Nicky proving that Chubbs’ tragic accident was no impediment to his potential return, Sandler and Dugan may have been looking for ways to include Chubbs in their sequel before Weathers; pᴀssing.

Even though Netflix did not officially confirm development on Happy Gilmore 2 until May 2024, Sandler first began talking publicly about the possibility of a sequel as far back as 2022, during the same period in which Weathers was earning considerable praise for his performance as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian. As such, it would not be too far a stretch to imagine that some of the sequel’s earliest drafts would have potentially made room for Weathers’ return.

Sadly, however, audiences will never have the opportunity to see Weathers reprise his role as Chubbs Peterson in Happy Gilmore 2. While fans will no doubt be thrilled to see that his legacy continues to be honored, his absence will still be keenly felt. Hopefully, however, Chubbs’ son may also be able to impart his own brand of much-needed wisdom and advice about hip mobility as Happy prepares to make his comeback to the world of professional golfing without his original mentor beside him.

Source: THR