AEW wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) made a significant leap into acting this year with his role in Happy Gilmore 2, starring alongside Adam Sandler. In the film, he played one of Sandler’s four sons, joining actors Ethan Cutkosky, Conor Shelley, and Philip Schneider. In an interview with Fightful, MJF shared insights into his relationship with Sandler, revealing they recently connected over FaceTime. He described Sandler as not only wild but also the kindest person he’s ever met. MJF explained that Sandler had a background as a pro wrestling fan, but MJF landed the role through an audition process. Initially, he auditioned to play one of the antagonistic golfers, but his audition caught Sandler’s attention. Sandler was impressed, calling MJF funny, and then Sandler’s team suggested casting him as one of his sons instead. MJF then did a second audition and secured the part, realizing he was recognized as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
Fan Take: This crossover between AEW and mainstream entertainment highlights the growing influence of AEW stars beyond wrestling, increasing the sport’s visibility. MJF’s successful acting debut signals exciting opportunities for wrestlers to expand their careers and bring more fans into the AEW universe.
