Kym Whitley happily joins the Adam Sandler universe with ‘Happy Gilmore 2'
Veteran actress and stand-up comic Kym Whitley ('Next Friday,' 'Along Came Polly') got to join in on the fun and visited Atlanta recently to promote the movie for Netflix. Whitley has been in the comedy world for more than 30 years. In this film, she plays Bessie, part of Happy's alcohol recovery group led by the sadistic Hal (Ben Stiller), who was a nutty orderly in the first movie. 'I sometimes found myself watching the scene instead of being in the scene,' Whitley said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the Waldorf Astoria in Buckhead. 'Ben is crazy. Adam is crazy. It's hard to keep a straight face. Sometimes I kept my head down and held it.'
At the same time, she added, 'my goal was to make Adam laugh in a scene. But he's a tough one to break. He's able to stay in character.' The set itself was relaxed because Sandler ensured everyone felt included, she said. 'You could always go up to director (Kyle Newacheck) or Adam and say, 'I thought of something. What if we do this?'' Whitley said. 'They make it a fun job. You never feel restrictive as a creative.'
'Happy Gilmore 2' in a pre-streaming world would have landed in movie theaters, but Sandler has forged a strong partnership with Netflix for more than a decade, releasing about a dozen movies on the platform. In this case, Netflix gave him a generous budget to ensure the sequel was packed with visual oomph and ridiculous star power. Two key players, of course, are back from the first film: Julie Bowen as Happy's loving wife and Christopher McDonald as Happy's bitter rival Shooter McGavin.
According to Netflix, 30 past and current pro golfers appear as themselves, led by John Daly, who is living with Happy and gets plenty of airtime. Others include Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Jack Nicklaus.
'Jack Nicklaus is still around?' Whitley asked. (He's 85 and gets a couple of lines.) Lavell Crawford, a friend of Whitley's, plays the son of Chubbs, Happy's original mentor (Chubbs was played by actor Carl Weathers, who died in 2024). NFL star Travis Kelce is a waiter. Rapper Bad Bunny becomes Happy's caddie. Others who have notable roles include Steve Buscemi, Haley Joel Osment, Eric André, Kevin Nealon, Post Malone, Eminem and Rob Schneider. Whitley has steadily found work going back to the 1990s. She has 138 acting gigs listed on her IMDb page, including appearances in 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' 'The Neighborhood,' 'Fuller House' and 'Black Dynamite,' as well as Atlanta-based productions like BET's 'Let's Stay Together' and Bounce TV's 'Act Your Age.'
Tribune News Service
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UAE Moments
15 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Netflix Is Betting Big on KPop Demon Hunters With Two Sequels
After breaking records and topping charts, KPop Demon Hunters is officially leveling up. According to a new report from The Wrap, Netflix is fast-tracking not one, but two sequels to the viral animated sensation—essentially confirming that the fan-favorite is here to stay. Since its launch, KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix's most-watched animated film ever, while its infectious K-pop soundtrack hit #1 on multiple global charts. With those kinds of numbers, Netflix isn't just thinking sequel—it's thinking Frozen -level franchise. The streamer reportedly sees KPop Demon Hunters as its own Frozen moment: a genre-defining, culture-moving hit that could become synonymous with the platform. Sure, the metrics are different (hours watched vs. box office billions), but the cultural impact is tracking in the same direction. So what's next? The obvious: KPop Demon Hunters 2 and 3 are in early development. But that's not all. Other bold ideas being tossed around include a live-action remake and—get this—a stage musical. Yes, seriously. The film's rise has been anything but ordinary. It just hit its highest viewership yet—six weeks after release. That kind of delayed surge is unheard of in Netflix-land, where most projects peak early and fade fast. It turns out people keep coming back not just for the movie, but for its soundtrack—which doubles as a visual album you can vibe to on loop. The breakout tracks? Golden by the heroic band HUNTR/X and Your Idol by the sinister Saja Boys. Fittingly, the plot of the film revolves around those very two groups battling for chart dominance... and the soul of the planet. If you missed the memo: the film's premise is delightfully chaotic—generations of musicians using music to protect the world from demons. But when demons start dropping K-pop bangers of their own? Yeah, things get weird.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
How ‘KPop Demon Hunters' became surprise hit of the summer
In the colourful, animated, musical world of 'KPop Demon Hunters,' everyone is a fan. The general public rocks T-shirts supporting their favorite idols. They hold light sticks and stare starry-eyed at stadium stages; they scream, they cry, they cheer, they buy the merch. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that the Sony Pictures/ Netflix film itself has inspired similar fanfare, having topped the streamer's global rankings. Fans have flooded the internet with art, covers, cosplay and choreography in response to the movie, which follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons. And it's not just the film that's a summer hit. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has topped the charts — debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and No. 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Here's how 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the year's surprising success story. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack utilizes some of the best and brightest in the genre. That included a partnership with K-pop company The Black Label, co-founded by super producer Teddy Park, known for his work with YG, Blackpink and 2NE1 — empowered girl groups used as references for the film's protagonists, the trio HUNTR/X. It's one of the many reasons the musical film's soundtrack stands on its own. Filmmakers 'really did their homework,' says Jeff Benjamin, a music journalist who specializes in K-pop. Indeed, they did a lot of research. One of the film's directors, Maggie Kang, said that her team prioritised 'representing the fandom and the idols in a very specific way,' as to not disappoint K-pop fans. They pulled from a treasure trove of influences heard at every corner: The fictional, rival boy band Saja Boys' hit song 'Soda Pop,' for example, references the 90s K-pop group H.O.T. And it has worked. 'KPop Demon Hunters' is the highest charting soundtrack of 2025, with eight of its songs landing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. To put that in perspective: Lorde's 'Virgin' and Justin Bieber's 'Swag' did the same. In some ways, it recalls Disney's 'Encanto,' which topped the Billboard 200 and produced a No. 1 hit, 'We Don't Talk About Bruno ' in 2022. Similarly, 'KPop Demon Hunters' embraces 'the original soundtrack, which is a lost art form,' adds Benjamin. Tamar Herman, a music journalist and author of the 'Notes on K-pop' newsletter, says the movie succeeds because it embraces animated musical tradition and authentic K-pop music production styles in equal measure. She considers 'Kpop Demon Hunters' to be 'a musical with songs inspired by K-pop,' not unlike a Jukebox musical, where the songs of ABBA are reimagined for 'Mamma Mia.' The novelty of the film, too, seems to be resonating. Where many animated films rely on adapting existing intellectual property, 'KPop Demon Hunters' is original. And it comes from an original perspective. 'It's not completely Korean, it's not completely Western and it's kind of right in that middle,' says Kang. 'It's like not pulled from one side; it's kind of flavors of both. So, I think that's what makes the movie feels a little different.' And 'the core story is what's drawing everybody in,' says Kang. San Francisco-based cosplayer and content creator Nanci Alcántar, who goes by Naanny Lee online agrees. 'It's not only a K-pop group, but it also tells a story of their journey, of how they transform into powerful warriors,' said Alcántar in Spanish. For her, it goes beyond K-pop — it's about the narrative. Kang's approach to cultural authenticity, too, may have contributed to the film's crossover appeal. Rather than explaining Korean elements like HUNTR/X's visit to a traditional medicine clinic or translating K-pop light stick culture for Western audiences, she opted for full immersion. 'We just wanted everybody to just accept that they were in Korea,' Kang said. Associated Press
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- UAE Moments
'Wednesday' Season 2 Kicks Off with Dark, Gothic London Premiere
The long-awaited second season of Netflix's 'Wednesday' kicked off with a hauntingly stylish premiere at Westminster, London. Cast and creators hit the purple carpet outside Central Hall and Queen Elizabeth II Centre on Wednesday, setting the tone for the show's signature gothic vibe. New Season Drops in Two Parts Mark your calendars! Season 2 will arrive in two parts—Part One on August 6 and Part Two on September 3—each with four episodes. Wednesday's Back at Nevermore Jenna Ortega returns as Wednesday Addams, who's now hailed as a hero at Nevermore Academy—much to her annoyance. She's back solving supernatural mysteries, dealing with glitches in her powers, and... babysitting her little brother Pugsley, who just enrolled. More Family, More Chaos Expect more of the Addams clan this season, including new faces like Steve Buscemi as the school principal and Joanna Lumley as Grandmama. Even Lady Gaga joins the cast for a special guest role in Part 2. Female Bonds Take the Spotlight The creators say this season dives deep into mother-daughter dynamics, sisterhood, and letting go of control—something Wednesday clearly struggles with. Ortega Levels Up Aside from leading the show, Ortega now wears the executive producer hat. Her co-stars say she's the cast's go-to voice, helping shape the vibe both on and off screen. Burton's Back, Too Filmmaker Tim Burton also returns behind the camera, continuing his signature spooky touch as director and executive producer.
