What We Hope for in a Sandler-Safdie Reunion Flick!

After churning out a stellar performance in 2019’s ‘Uncut Gems’, Adam Sandler proved he still had the chops to take on a dramatic role. Here’s what we hope for if the “Sandman” and Josh Safdie reunite on another nerve-racking thriller. 

It’s been nearly a half decade since Adam Sandler and the Safdie brothers collaborated on the well-received high-octane thriller Uncut Gems. The brothers were set to reconvene with Sandler on a new film set in the sports memorabilia world, reportedly featuring Ben Affleck, Megan Thee Stallion, Steve Harvey, and Gael García Bernal, but the Netflix project is on pause as of right now after the Safdies amicably split up. If production kicks off, this is what we’d like to see!

Sandler’s Blend of Comedy and Tragedy

In Uncut Gems, Sandler played Howard Ratner, an impulsive, sometimes honest, jeweler who’ll do anything to make things work. Ratner’s drive, which is sprinkled with humor throughout the film, is, tragically, what ultimately gets the best of him.

It’s a balance that we don’t often see from Sandler, one that could certainly reach new heights if the cast of Affleck and Harvey, among others, comes to fruition. A new Sandler character that similarly handles the Safdies’ dark, twisted humor with an almost child-like sincerity à la Big Daddy would make for an interesting dynamic, especially in the aggressive worlds of sports card trading and live betting.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Acting Development

Megan Thee Stallion, who signed an exclusive first-look deal with Netflix in 2021, is relatively new to the big screen, as she only has three film credits to her name. One of which came through a cameo appearance in 2024’s Mean Girls.

There’s no denying the Grammy Award-winning rapper’s popularity and captivating personality, and getting involved in film is something she’s had on her mind for a while.

New Looks for Star-Studded Cast

As movie enjoyers, we are accustomed to Sandler’s usually casual look. Throw on a t-shirt and some baggy shorts and call it a day. Uncut Gems broke that trend, dressing Sandler in more business casual attire, which could return in his new role as a sports memorabilia agent.

Furthermore, in an exciting sneak peak, Sandler revealed that his new look is “not a handsome moment,” which could point to extensive makeup and prosthetics.

Affleck, meanwhile, was in talks to become a retired baseball pitcher who embarks on a comeback attempt. The longtime leading man has taken on roles that demand top physical shape before, like in Daredevil and Batman, but turning into a professional athlete, perhaps one that has to shake off the rust and find his footing again, is an interesting twist.

An Electrifying Soundtrack

A calling card of the Safdie brothers’ most recent works, like Good Time, for instance, is a thrilling soundtrack, fitting both the mood of the plot and the character’s actions. With Josh directing this one solo, we look forward to some holdover in that area.

Daniel Lopatin, aka Oneohtrix Point Never, composed the soundtracks for both Good Time and Uncut Gems, the first of which won him the Soundtrack Award at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. More of that jazzy, synth-based music from the two soundtracks could fit in nicely and create that uneasy tension which keeps viewers mesmerized.

Production for this upcoming Netflix project was supposed to start in the summer of 2023, but the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike halted that. Sandler said that shooting would take place “during live baseball, so it’s gonna take a minute.”

With Major League Baseball’s Opening Day just two months away, the movie could be resumed very soon and we can’t wait!