The production handled Schneider’s absence by simply writing his character out without explanation. In Grown Ups 2 , the narrative focuses on the remaining three friends and their families. There is no mention of where Rob Hilliard went, nor is there a joke referencing his absence—a rarity in a Sandler film, which is usually heavy on meta-humor and inside jokes.
Schneider himself alluded to pay being a factor. In a radio interview, he jokingly (but pointedly) mentioned that "they should have paid me a lot of money" and questioned why the production didn't simply meet his financial requirements to make the return worthwhile. why wasn't rob in grown ups 2
Interestingly, Schneider’s real-life wife, Patricia, has a small role in the film as "Rita," the manager of the cheerleading squad. This cameo suggests there was no "bad blood" between the Schneiders and the production, further muddling the waters regarding the true reason for his exit. Schneider himself alluded to pay being a factor
Officially, the reason given was a classic Hollywood scheduling conflict. Reports indicated that Schneider was committed to filming the sitcom Rob , which premiered on CBS in 2012, and later the Nick at Nite series Instant Mom . While plausible on the surface, this explanation is insufficient. Hollywood schedules are fluid, and for a Sandler-led production—notorious for reuniting his repertory company—cameos or reduced roles are easily accommodated. Several other cast members, including Norm Macdonald as the irascible barber and Steve Buscemi as the erratic wig-wearing friend, had minimal screen time. If Schneider had been a priority, a single day on set could have been carved out. The more convincing reason lies in the narrative and comedic structure of Grown Ups 2 . This cameo suggests there was no "bad blood"
Rather than recasting the role of Rob Hilliard, the production introduced a new character, , played by Nick Swardson. Swardson's character was written as the brother of Schneider’s character to maintain a familiar dynamic within the group of friends. Will He Return for a Sequel? Rob Schneiders absence in Adam Sandler films! : r/movies
Behind the scenes, reports suggested that the absence was largely financial. The first Grown Ups was a massive box office hit, grossing over $270 million worldwide on a budget of roughly $80 million. Naturally, the stars expected a raise for the sequel.
While rumors originally suggested a falling out between Schneider and Adam Sandler, those have been largely debunked as the two continued to collaborate on later projects like The Ridiculous 6 and Hubie Halloween . Key Reasons for His Absence