Kym Whitley Discusses 'Pressure' on the Set of Happy Gilmore 2 with Adam Sandler

Kym Whitley recently opened up about her experience filming Happy Gilmore 2, revealing the sense of pressure that can arise in the presence of notable comedic talent. Whitley will star alongside Adam Sandler in the sequel to the beloved 1996 comedy classic.

During an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE at the 16th Annual African-American Film Critics Awards on February 19 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Whitley expressed that, despite feeling comfortable in comedic environments, she experiences pressure while working on the project. "You do feel like you're at home, but you're with Adam Sandler and greats like that," Whitley explained. "You feel pressure. You feel like you're at home, but you also know that there's a level of comedy genius that you're like, ‘I don't know, can I compete?’ Not compete, but can I stand next to them and still shine?"

Despite these feelings, Whitley acknowledged that Sandler cultivates a fun atmosphere on set. "You got all this great talent around you, but Adam [...] was like, ‘Hey, let loose.’ He'll let us improv. We have a good time; the script is funny. So it doesn't feel like work. It really just feels like fun."

The actress reassured fans that Happy Gilmore 2, scheduled for release on Netflix in 2025, is set to deliver a comedic experience. "It is going to be one of the funniest movies of the year. Yes, because Happy Gilmore — the first one was funny. Happy Gilmore 2 takes it up another level, and it is hysterical," she said.

The original Happy Gilmore film, released in 1996, starred Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, and Ben Stiller. The movie follows Happy Gilmore, played by Sandler, a former hockey player who enters a prestigious golf tournament to win money needed to save his grandmother’s home.

In the sequel, Whitley portrays one of Happy’s friends, joining a cast that includes Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, Benny Safdie, and Travis Kelce, who are all making new appearances, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Furthermore, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, and Ben Stiller are returning to reprise their roles from the original film. The sequel is scripted by Sandler and Tim Herlihy, the team behind the original movie, and directed by Kyle Newacheck.

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