Adam Sandler returning for Grown Ups 3

Adam Sandler is officially returning for Grown Ups 3 on Netflix.

The streaming giant has announced a long awaited third movie in the comedy franchise, which started with the original film in 2010 and focused on childhood friends played by Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Rob Schneider as they reunited after 30 years apart.

Over 13 years after 2013 sequel Grown Ups 2, Netflix has confirmed a third film is in the works.

Spade and James had previously teased the possibility of a threequel, and it's rumoured that the core five actors will return.

However, Netflix is yet to announce any casting news, while a "reunion date for these grown-ups hasn't been revealed".

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but Happy Gilmore 2 filmmaker Kyle Newacheck will direct from Sandler and Tim Herlihy's script.

After last summer's success of Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix, Herlihy admitted more Sandler sequels were a possibility.

He told The Hollywood Reporter at the time: "This throws it open.

"Definitely not sure we want to just be in the business of doing sequels to movies. [laughs]

"But the response to this and the way people have embraced it definitely makes it more exciting, if we were to do that.”

Around the same time, Kevin James teased that there was "something happening" regarding a third movie.

Asked if there'd been any recent conversations, he told The Direct: "I think there have been. And I think, yeah, I think you can keep hope alive.

"I can say that. I would keep a lot of hope alive. And I think it's happening - something's happening. I can say that."

The movie's original director Dennis Dugan noted as far back as 2015 that there were at least discussions about a third film.

He told THR: “There’s been talk of another Grown Ups, but I don’t know where that stands.”

Earlier this year, Sandler accepted the Career Achievement gong at AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards, and during his speech he vowed to "make at least 50 more movies" before he dies.

He quipped: "I don’t know how much time I have left - 60, 70 years. 80 tops, maybe 90 if I start working out and taking creatine.

"[Regardless], I promise to everyone here tonight, I will make at least 50 more movies before I am dead - and at least 25 of them will be good."