Summary
- Rob Schneider’s absence from Grown Ups 2 was due to a combination of availability and financial issues, as he was focusing on his sitcom and stand-up career at the time.
- Rumors of a falling out between Schneider and Adam Sandler were debunked, as they have continued to work together in subsequent movies, including The Ridiculous 6 and Sandy Wexler.
- Despite Schneider’s absence, Grown Ups 2 performed similarly to its predecessor in terms of box office sales and critics’ reviews, suggesting that his departure may not have significantly impacted the franchise. However, his character would be welcomed back in a potential Grown Ups 3.
Most of the comedy star cast returned for Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups 2, but why wasn’t Rob Schneider in Grown Ups 2 as Rob Hilliard? Rob Schneider is well-known for his many, many collaborations with Adam Sandler. The pair first worked together on The Waterboy in 1998, and their movie careers started to take off around the same time. From that point forwards, Schneider tended to appear in most of Sandler’s output, even if it was only for a brief cameo, including 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, and more.
This dedicated partnership is what caused audiences to question “why wasn’t Rob Schneider in Grown Ups 2?”. 2010’s Grown Ups notably featured Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Kevin James, in addition to Rob Schneider. Grown Ups revolved around the reunion of five childhood friends which leads to assorted wacky hijinks. While the film wasn’t greeted with the warmest of reviews it was a solid box-office success. It didn’t take long for a sequel to roll around, but when it came to Grown Ups 2, Rob Schneider was missing. There were several reasons why Schneider didn’t return as the hippie Rob.
Rob Schneider’s Reasons For Turning Down Grown Ups 2
Rob Schneider didn’t return to Grown Ups 2 because of a combination of availability and financial issues. Schneider himself explained he wouldn’t be part of Grown Ups 2 due to his 2012 sitcom Rob; he also cited money issues playing a part in his decision. During their report about actor Nick Swardson replacing Schneider by playing his character’s brother, Vulture pointed out that Rob had been canceled before the production of Grown Ups 2 was set to begin. That said, Schneider had a baby in 2012 and was refocusing on his stand-up career, so it seems a combination of factors led to him passing on the sequel.
The Sandler Renaissance Has Clearly Not Forgotten Rob Schneider
Because viewers were wondering “why wasn’t Rob Schneider in Grown Ups 2?” rumors began to fly and his absence in Grown Ups 2 and several subsequent Adam Sandler movies caused reports of a falling out between the two. However, they later reunited for The Ridiculous 6 in 2015, Sandy Wexler, and once again for Hubie Halloween. And with the Sandler Renaissance currently taking place on Netflix, Rob Schneider is right back in the game along with his longtime friend and collaborator.
This includes the resurgence in popularity of several Sandler and Schneider classics, as well as Sandler’s dip into more dramatic roles with the likes of Uncut Gems and Hustle. Rob Schneider was also in Home Team in 2021, which was produced by Sandler’s production company Happy Madison. Even though Sandler wasn’t in the film, clearly he and Schneider are still working together. Schneider’s Grown Ups 2 absence seems to have been a one-time fluke, and the pair remain strong collaborators. Outside of working with Sandler, Schneider has most recently appeared in Home Team, Daddy Daughter Trip, and Amor es amor.
Was Grown Ups 2 Hurt By Not Having Rob Schneider?
All in all, Grown Ups 2 didn’t face a dip in box office sales and critics’ reviews of the sequel weren’t all that different from the first entry, despite the question “why wasn’t Rob Schneider in Grown Ups 2?”. The first film made $271 million at the box office worldwide, whereas the sequel made $246 million. The critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes for both films is also within one point of each other. It’s safe to say that both Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2 performed somewhat equally well among audiences and critics, suggesting that Schneider’s departure may not have hurt the franchise all that much.
Despite middling reviews, audiences are open to the prospect of Grown Ups 3 and studios wouldn’t be above making another sequel. If the film were to happen, then Schneider would assuredly be back to reprise the role of Rob Hilliard. The actor/comedian currently has four projects in various stages of development, so it’s unclear if he would face the same scheduling issues as before. His character would certainly be welcomed back with open arms by audiences, as he did add a comical dynamic to the group. In addition, a third film could see Rob and his brother interact. Either way, Schneider was missed during Grown Ups 2.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
