As Adam Sandler prepares for a sequel to his 1996 classic comedy Happy Gilmore, which is reportedly in the works, let’s take a look at the original movie starring Christopher McDonald. Playing the role of Shooter McGavin, the antagonist in the movie, McDonald ended up being Happy Gilmore’s main opponent.
However, while the movie catapulted his fame, Christopher McDonald had once come dangerously close to missing out on the role. The iconic character of the talented but snobby golfer in Adam Sandler’s comedy flick Happy Gilmore was almost played by someone else. But thanks to McDonald’s last-minute change of mind, the actor finally landed the role of Shooter.
Christopher McDonald Had Initially Turned Down Happy Gilmore
As THR claims that Adam Sandler is currently working on his 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore sequel which is set to be bagged by Netflix, we recall the original cult classic. Turning into one of Sandler’s most iconic films, right after hitting theatres, the movie featured Christopher McDonald as the infamous Shooter McGavin, a golf star full of himself.
Directed by Dennis Dugan, Happy Gilmore revolves around the titular wannabe hockey player (Adam Sandler) with a flaming temper. Joining the PGA Tour to help save his grandmother’s house, after discovering his latent natural talent for golf, Gilmore becomes the talk of the town and faces his opponent Christopher McDonald’s Shooter McGavin.
While Christopher McDonald played the arrogant antagonist in the movie, reports suggest that he was once dangerously close to missing out on the role. Initially turning down the iconic character, McDonald almost lost the role, had he not sat down for a discussion with Adam Sandler. Speaking with comedian Michael Rapaport on his podcast, McDonald discussed the whole incident while singing praise of Sandler.
What Convinced Christopher McDonald to Star in Adam Sandler’s Movie?
Starting his discussion by claiming that Adam Sandler is the smart man behind his role in Happy Gilmore, Christopher McDonald admitted that it was the actor who eventually changed his mind. Being candid about how he had initially turned down the role, McDonald noted sitting for a discussion with Sandler which eventually changed his mind about the role.
“He’s smart. You don’t think he’s smart because he plays all these doofuses, but the man is smart… I turned down that movie [Happy Gilmore] and I thought, ‘What am I doing? I just won this golf tournament, I gotta sit down with Adam. Maybe that role’s still available.’”
Eventually calling Adam Sandler solved the whole thing for Christopher McDonald. Laughing through his conversation with Sandler, the actor admitted how the light-hearted discussion changed his mind. Perhaps McDonald’s admiration for Sandler is what made him reconsider his role, or maybe the Grown Ups actor had a charm that helped change McDonald’s mind.
“For 25 minutes I laughed my ass off and I thought this guy… he’s just got it. He was so funny and so self-effacing, and so ‘I’m the underdog’, and you see there’s a big depth to him.”
Well, the rest is history, for Christopher McDonald eventually appeared in Happy Gilmore and became rather famous for the role of Shooter McGavin. Now, the actor is said to be working with Adam Sandler in the sequel to their 1996 comedy.
Happy Gilmore is available for streaming on Hulu.
