Majority of 'Grown Ups 2' to Film This Summer in Marblehead

Get excited Marblehead - the majority of the star-packed Adam Sandler movie 'Grown Ups 2' will be shot right here in town this summer, with filming expected to take place at several local schools, a home on Marblehead Neck and on Atlantic Avenue.

The film's Location Manager, Charlie Harrington, appeared before the Board of Selectmen at Wednesday night and asked for their permission to film "a large portion of the movie" in Marblehead over the next four months.

"This is basically the town in the movie and we will be pretending everything else we use will be in this town," Harrington said. "We scouted 30 or 40 towns and Marblehead was both the director's and Adam Sandler's favorite."

Shooting is expected to start the first week in May and continue through Aug. 9.

Although Harrington was careful not to give away too much of the plot before the movie comes out - he did say local residents shouldn't be surprised if they spot an NBA legend in a police uniform or a giant tire rolling down the street this summer.

"We have some stunt stuff to film. We don't have any high-speed driving or anything, but we have a scene where David Spade is put into a giant tire and he rolls through town, rolling past various landmarks until Shaquille O'Neal, who plays the town cop, stops him at the end of the sequence," Harrington said.

After giving away that tid-bit, which drew a chorus of laughter from those in attendance, Harrington was tight-lipped on exactly where and when filming will be taking place.

"We have at least 17 days of the film being shot in town, about eight or nine of those will be in Old Town and I think we have four or five days along Atlantic Avenue," Harrington said. "We are also planning on shooting a couple of days at several schools, both while school is in session and after summer vacation starts, and three other days at a house on Marblehead Neck."

Harrington said about half of the movie will be filmed in Marblehead and the remainder is expected to be shot at locations in Swampscott, Salem and Peabody.

Harrington said the name of the quintessential New England town that Marblehead will be depicting in the movie hasn't been nailed down yet.

"We're trying to figure out a name right now, Stanton I think is one of the names we're considering," Harrington said. "It's just supposed to be a New England town, I don't think they will ever say what state it is in."

After unanimously passing a motion to approve local filming, the Selectmen took turns expressing their gratitude for the producers picking Marblehead as the main location.

"This is really exciting that so much of the movie will be shot here," Judie Jacobi said, adding that she looked forward to seeing local landmarks in the film.

"I just want to say thanks to you guys, because this is really going to help the local economy this summer," James Nye said.

Cast members for the movie include Sandler, Spade, Taylor Lautner, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Maya Rudolph and Rob Schneider.

Residents interested in being an extra in the film can for additional information.