- Maxwell Jacob Friedman has been boasting about his Happy Gilmore 2 audition
- Friedman is a pro-wrestler and former World Champion
- MJF has an as yet undisclosed role in the upcoming Netflix sequel
Given that Adam Sandler is one of the most treasured comedy actors in Hollywood history, there can probably be no better feeling than making the man himself bend over double in fits of laughter. And apparently, such an honor has fallen to Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 co-star, professional wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
Friedman, better known as MJF to wrestling fans, currently plies his in-ring trade with All Elite Wrestling, where he is a former World and International Champion. The 28-year-old, who filmed a scene that was eventually cut fox 2023’s critically acclaimed The Iron Claw (in which he also served as an executive producer), has been cast for Happy Gilmore 2 in an as-yet-undisclosed role, but one that is believed to be pretty significant.
HAPPY GILMORE 2: EVERYTHING WE KNOW SO FAR
MJF, who can briefly be seen in the movie’s trailer at around the 14 second mark, recently sat down for an interview with the SI Media podcast (via Wrestling Inc) in which he revealed he made Sandler ‘laugh like a hyena’ during his audition
Of course, Friedman being a pro-wrestling heel (villain) by trade, the nature of his comments are deliberately obnoxious, but entertaining nontheless.
“First of all, it all starts by having ‘it’, which is something that I have that almost nobody else in the industry has today. A lot of people try to manufacture it with neat music, pyro, interesting taunt, or catchphrase. I was born with it. I got the audition because I am very talented and I have very good representatives. I am repped by both Activist and CAA. I am sure you’ve heard of CAA. I’m also sure that you most likely heard of Activist. I’ve got the best team easily. They got me the audition.
“I auditioned for that role and I got that role, which is a big role in the movie. I’m very, very, very excited for the movie to come out.”
Happy Gilmore 2 will also star the likes of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, Ben Stiller and Margaret Qualley, while also seeing Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald return from the iconic first film, which was first released in 1996.
Friedman will not be the only wrestler to grace the greens in the film, either, with WWE’s multiple time World Champion Becky Lynch also set to appear in the sequel.
Netflix recently revealed the film is to premiere on July 25.
