After proving that he’s still capable of a truly great acting performance in “Uncut Gems,” compared to the dreck that is released on Netflix, many were hoping that maybe Adam Sandler would turn the page on his career and release films that were a bit…better than usual. Well, we have good news and bad news, as it appears that Sandler’s next film has a really talented filmmaker but a premise that leaves a lot to be desired, to put it nicely.
READ MORE: Adam Sandler Loved ‘Sonic’ So Much He Called Jim Carrey During The Screening
According to Variety, Sandler has signed on to produce and star in the new Netflix film, “Hustle.” The film tells the story of an American basketball scout that is desperate to find his way back into the NBA. And when he finds a once-in-a-lifetime player abroad, the scout thinks he’s found his ticket back into professional basketball. Yes, if you’re a fan of the 1994 film, “The Air Up There,” then you might think the premise sounds oddly familiar. That’s because the two films seem to have a lot in common, though it’s unclear what part of the world Sandler’s scout character will go to find the latest basketball star.
Sure, that doesn’t sound like the best idea for a comedy film, or at least a GOOD comedy. But there is some hope, mainly in the fact that Sandler has brought on Jeremiah Zagar to helm the film. Zagar is best known as the filmmaker who broke out thanks to his 2018 feature, “We the Animals.” That film is one of our favorites from 2018 and was picked as part of our Best LGBTQ Films Of The 21st Century (So Far) list last year. So, here’s hoping that Zagar is able to elevate “Hustle” to something more than just a typical Sandler/Netflix film.
READ MORE: The Best LGBTQ Films Of The 21st Century (So Far)
“Hustle” is written by Taylor Materne and Will Fetters and produced by Sandler’s Happy Madison productions, along with Roth/Kirschenbaum Films and LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Entertainment.
Filming is expected to begin when productions are able to commence once again. So, it’s unclear when we might see “Hustle” arrive on Netflix.
For those wondering about Kevin Bacon’s film, “The Air Up There,” here’s the trailer and a scene from the film (Spoiler alert—it hasn’t aged well…):