The script for Adam Sandler’s reunion with his Uncut Gems directors Josh and Benny Safdie is proving to be ridiculously long. Sandler, who has had a storied career in Hollywood that often involved him traveling to exotic destinations and taking part in comedy specials and movies, stars in Uncut Gems as Howard Ratner, a jeweler. Far from Sandler’s typical comedic wheelhouse, Uncut Gems is a crime thriller focusing on Ratner’s attempts to retrieve a gem in order to repay massive gambling debts. It earned Sandler substantial awards buzz and outcry online when he was snubbed by the Oscars.
Sandler has already confirmed that he will be making a new movie with the Uncut Gems directors, though details have been kept intentionally sparse. Yet, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sandler reveals that the script is already exceptionally large and has been changing constantly along every step of the production. Check out Sandler’s quote below:
“They’ve been writing this movie we’re supposed to do together for a couple years. They just write hundreds and hundreds of pages. I’ll read them and I’ll say, ‘I like the part when this …’ And they’ll be like, ‘Oh, that’s not in it anymore. We did a whole other thing. We’re going to send you a new draft.’ They just don’t stop writing and thinking and coming at every angle they can, and this movie we’re going to do is pretty amazing. The first draft of the new one was 340 pages! It was insane and it was great.”
What We Know About The Safdie Bros’ Next Movie
There isn’t much known about the Safdie Brothers’ next movie, unfortunately. While Sandler is confirmed to be involved, the script is still in development and production is slowly gearing up. There is no word on what the film will revolve around, yet with Sandler’s recent genre hopping contributing so much to his career successes, it could be any manner of story. After how well Uncut Gems worked, it would be a surprise to see the Safdie brothers team up with Sandler once again, only to attempt another genre entirely rather than sticking to the crime thriller variety of movies.
Because Sandler is often involved in non-serious movies that earn the revulsion of critics, including the critically panned Jack & Jill and the Grown Ups franchise, Sandler is rarely taken particularly seriously as an actor. Yet, if the new team-up project does prove to be a formidable production, Sandler may end his bad movie curse by returning to acting in productions that have interesting characters and narratives, rather than relying on hit-or-miss jokes. Uncut Gems already proved to be a trend-breaker for Sandler, and last year he released the well-received Hustle. If his projects continue along the same trajectory, the Safdie brothers could really make a difference in his career.
The film is expected to start production in the second quarter of 2023, meaning that there is still ample time to trim down the script. As Uncut Gems was two hours and 15 minutes, the script would benefit from cutting at least 100 pages from the length if it wants to hit anywhere close to a similar runtime. Netflix is expected to be involved with the project, which is no surprise, given that they have a lasting deal with Sandler. While Uncut Gems was unfortunately snubbed by the Oscars, the untitled Safdie project will serve as a perfect chance for a reunion that can make a serious difference for the Safdies and Sandler in their attempts to secure an Academy Award.More: Adam Sandler’s Forgotten Connection Highlights His Hollywood Importance
