Netflix is developing Grown Ups 3, reuniting Adam Sandler and key cast, with a new director set to lead the next summer comedy.
A familiar summer-cottage comedy energy is headed back to screens: Grown Ups 3 is now in development at Netflix, with Adam Sandler and several of his longtime collaborators expected to return.
Netflix announced the threequel during its Upfront presentation on Wednesday, signaling that the franchise’s next chapter will be built for streaming rather than a traditional theatrical run.
The project will be directed by Kyle Newacheck. who has signed a deal after previously working with Sandler on projects including Happy Gilmore 2. a top streaming title from last year.. That release was cited as setting a Nielsen record with 2.89B minutes viewed during its first week. underscoring Netflix’s interest in the kind of audience draw Sandler comedies tend to generate.
For the script, Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy are attached as writers. Production will be handled by Sandler along with Jackie Sandler, Jack Giarraputo, and Tim Herlihy, with Kevin Grady and Judit Maull serving as executive producers.
The series’ premise has largely driven its appeal: a group of childhood friends reconnects as adults over the course of a summer vacation, blending reunion warmth with the brand of broad, improvisational-style humor associated with Sandler’s comedy brand.
For Grown Ups 3, Sandler is set to be joined by frequent collaborators from his Happy Madison universe, including David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, and Kevin James. Their return is central to what fans have come to expect from the franchise—an ensemble built around familiar comedic chemistry.
The new film also carries continuity from the franchise’s earlier big-screen outings. Both prior Grown Ups movies were directed by Dennis Dugan and released theatrically by Sony’s Columbia Pictures.
The first film, released in the summer of 2010, earned around $272M worldwide, while Grown Ups 2, released in 2013, grossed around $247M.. Those commercial results helped establish the franchise’s audience and the kind of cast-and-ensemble formula that makes the next installment feel like more than a one-off reunion.
Netflix is described as a natural destination for the next film in the series. in part because Sandler has been under a production deal with the streamer for more than a decade.. That relationship has reportedly led to 10-plus films and other projects. tying the threequel’s development to an existing pipeline of Sandler-driven comedy.
The timing also reflects how major streamers increasingly build franchises around established performer-brand ecosystems.. With Sandler’s projects already integrated into Netflix’s release strategy. Grown Ups 3 fits a pattern: rather than starting from scratch. the streamer can lean on a ready-made fan base and cast familiarity.
There’s also a practical advantage for viewers: streaming availability makes it easier for ensemble comedies to reach broad audiences quickly. especially when the franchise concept is built around a shared. recognizable group dynamic.. The earlier Nielsen-viewing detail tied to Happy Gilmore 2 further suggests Netflix is watching engagement metrics closely. not just relying on brand recognition.
For the franchise itself, moving from theatrical releases to a streaming home could shift how audiences encounter the film, while keeping the story engine intact—friends thrown back together for one more summer, with the same kind of comedic ensemble returning to drive the laughter.
Grown Ups 3 Adam Sandler Netflix Kyle Newacheck Dennis Dugan Happy Madison universe