Although Hustle may be tipped to be one of Adam Sandler's most promising roles to date, it simply won't be able to change his career. Netflix's upcoming sports drama will see Sandler take on the role of Stanley Sugarman, a washed-up basketball scout who attempts to revive his career by recruiting a player into the NBA. Hustle will combine Sandler's serious and silly sides, offering a reasonable blend of comedy and drama in a film that will see the stars of Hollywood and the NBA join the iconic actor/comedian.
The reputation that Adam Sandler has earned himself over his career so far is utterly unique. Though the actor has demonstrated his impressive dramatic acting ability in films such as Uncut Gems and Punch-Drunk Love, he has also continued to make low-brow comedies that have thoroughly tanked with critics. This in turn has led to Sandler becoming something of a divisive figure: there are those who believe he's overrated, those who believe he's simply cashing in on easy money, and also those who firmly believe that Adam Sandler is the perfect entertainer.
Though Hustle will seemingly combine both of Sandler's strengths into one role, it's unlikely to change his career. Though Sandler has proved his dramatic chops on multiple occasions, his general reputation remains squarely as a comic actor whose movies rarely earned more than average reviews. Despite Hustle being the perfect vehicle for Sandler as an actor, it simply won't change the way he's perceived by his audience, and this means it's not likely to affect any genuine change in his wider career.
Sandler's status as a polarizing figure hasn't affected his massive success. The actor is worth an estimated $420 million, and his lucrative deal with Netflix appears to be paying off nicely for him so far, with many more roles on the horizon. Adam Sandler's comedies were what earned him this success, with movies such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Big Daddy all helping to define the comedic landscape in the 1990s, while cementing Sandler as a global star. Though many of these films didn't score well with critics, their longevity speaks for itself, and that, in turn, has led to Sandler's career remaining mostly comedy-focused, with his brand being very much that of a man content to make entertaining films that aren't critically acclaimed.
Sandler's career to date seemingly proves that Hustle won't be a magical fix for his image. He has delivered celebrated performances before—most notably in 2002's Punch-Drunk Love and 2019's unsettlingly manic Uncut Gems—but always seems to return to making unintelligent but ultimately entertaining comedies. Though this has been a major criticism of Adam Sandler, it hasn't hurt his success - however, it has perpetuated the idea that he's little more than a comic actor who chooses to waste his dramatic potential. Even with Hustle tipped to be one of Sandler's best movies to date, it seems unlikely that it will break that cycle.
Though Sandler's detractors may believe his career needs fixing, his continued success and popularity speak for themselves. Sandler's ability to act both dramatically and comedically has made him one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, meaning that his career is looking healthier than ever. Though Hustle might be one of the most exciting prospects in Sandler's immediate future, it's not likely to change the trajectory of his career—which is probably a good thing, considering his net worth seems to continue growing year by year.