More than 13 years after Grown Ups 2, Netflix has officially confirmed that Grown Ups 3 is in development. The long-rumored Adam Sandler comedy sequel is finally moving forward, with Sandler and longtime collaborator Tim Herlihy attached as co-writers.
The confirmation came through Netflix’s official Tudum article, which acknowledged the project’s development and made clear that the reunion is happening. However, the streamer has not yet announced a release date or confirmed the official cast for the third film.
That distinction is important because the Grown Ups franchise has long been associated with its ensemble of Sandler’s comedy collaborators. The first film, released in 2010, starred Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Rob Schneider as childhood friends who reunite after 30 years over the July 4 weekend. Their families also became a major part of the story, with Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello, Joyce Van Patten and Salma Hayek playing key roles.
The 2013 sequel, Grown Ups 2, brought the group together again when Sandler’s character, Lenny, moved back to his hometown. The film continued the franchise’s loose, hangout-style comedy format, built around old friendships, family chaos, hometown rivals and exaggerated comic situations.
For Grown Ups 3, Netflix has not revealed what the story will be. The streamer has also not confirmed whether Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade, Rob Schneider or other familiar faces from the earlier films will return. For now, the official update is that the film is in development, with Sandler and Herlihy writing the script.
Kyle Newacheck will direct the film. He previously directed Happy Gilmore 2, another legacy Adam Sandler sequel for Netflix. His involvement connects Grown Ups 3 to Netflix’s broader strategy of reviving familiar Sandler titles for streaming audiences.
Sandler and Herlihy have a long creative history. The two previously worked together on Grown Ups 2, Happy Gilmore 2, Hubie Halloween and several other Sandler projects. Their return as co-writers suggests that Netflix is keeping the sequel close to the comic tone and creative circle that shaped the earlier films.
The production team also includes several familiar Sandler collaborators. Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Jack Giarraputo and Tim Herlihy are producing the film, while Kevin Grady and Judit Maull are serving as executive producers.
The official announcement comes after years of speculation. Cast members such as David Spade and Kevin James had previously teased that another Grown Ups film could happen, but Netflix’s acknowledgement marks the first concrete confirmation that the project is actually in development.
The Grown Ups films were never major critical favorites, but they became commercially successful and built a strong audience over time. The original film earned strong global box office numbers after its 2010 theatrical release, while the sequel also performed well enough to keep interest in a third installment alive for more than a decade.
Part of the franchise’s appeal has always been its relaxed ensemble energy. Unlike many plot-heavy studio comedies, Grown Ups was built around the idea of watching Sandler and his longtime friends share screen space, trade jokes and create family-driven chaos. That easygoing format helped the films become repeat-viewing favorites for many audiences, especially on home entertainment and streaming platforms.
That makes Netflix a natural home for the third installment. Sandler has had one of the streamer’s most successful long-running creative relationships, delivering comedies, dramas, animated films and specials across multiple years. Netflix’s Tudum article also highlighted several Sandler titles available on the platform, including Happy Gilmore 2, Murder Mystery, Murder Mystery 2, Hubie Halloween, Sandy Wexler, The Ridiculous 6, The Week Of, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Hustle, The Meyerowitz Stories and his comedy specials.
The confirmation of Grown Ups 3 also fits into a larger trend of legacy comedy sequels finding new life on streaming. Instead of depending only on theatrical nostalgia, Netflix can use its global subscriber base to bring back a familiar comedy brand for both longtime fans and newer viewers who discovered the earlier films online.
For now, the biggest unanswered question remains the cast. Since Netflix has not announced the official lineup, it would be premature to say that the original five leads are all returning. The safer update is that the earlier films starred Sandler, Rock, James, Spade and Schneider, while the cast of Grown Ups 3 is still under wraps.
The release date is also yet to be revealed. Netflix has asked fans to stay tuned for more updates, meaning production timing, plot details and casting announcements are likely to follow later.
What is clear is that Grown Ups 3 is no longer just a rumor. More than a decade after the second film, Adam Sandler’s comedy franchise is officially coming back through Netflix. Whether the full gang returns or the story takes a slightly different direction, the project gives Sandler another major legacy sequel on the platform after Happy Gilmore 2.
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