Julie Bowen is more than happy to be reprising one of her her roles 30 years later for the upcoming sequel “Happy Gilmore 2.” Bowen starred in the 1996 original film as Virginia Venit, a representative for the professional golf tour that Adam Sandler‘s titular character joins on a whim. Virginia (Bowen) is also the romantic interest of Happy (Sandler).
When it came to the long-awaited sequel, though, Bowen was shocked to be asked to return. “I didn’t think they’d bring me back at all,” Bowen said during the “Inside of You” podcast, as reported by Variety. “I mean, who am I supposed to be? He’s got to have a younger woman in this one, ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’”
However, Sandler assured Bowen that Virginia is the “heart of the movie” even though Bowen noted she has less screentime than in the first film. “Adam’s like, ‘Stop saying that. You’re the heart of the movie,’” the “Modern Family” star said. Bowen previously reunited with Sandler for 2020 film “Hubie Halloween” prior to “Happy Gilmore 2.”
Bowen continued that, even when she was cast in the first “Happy Gilmore,” she didn’t know if she was right to play Virginia. “I read [for the role] and they were relieved,” she said. “They were visibly relieved. I go, ‘What’s going on?’ They’re like, ‘Yeah, some of these girls are just so aggressively sexy.’ And I was like, ‘That’s a bad thing?’”
“Happy Gilmore 2” will also star original actor Christopher McDonald, with Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, Kid Cudi, and Sandler’s “Uncut Gems” director Benny Safdie co-starring. Sandler cowrote “Happy Gilmore 2” with Tim Herlihy, who also cowrote the original. “Happy Gilmore 2” is directed by Kyle Newacheck (“Workaholics,” “What We Do in the Shadows”), who also previously helmed Sandler’s 2019 film “Murder Mystery.”
McDonald announced the sequel in 2024, saying during Audacy radio show “92.3 The Fan,” “I saw Adam [Sandler] about two weeks ago, and he says to me, ‘McDonald, you’re going to love this.’ I said, ‘What?’ He says, ‘How about that,’ and he shows me the first draft of ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’ … Fans demand it, dammit!”
Mega-producer Sandler has a Netflix deal which has been extended twice. Sandler has produced films like “Leo,” “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah,” “Hustle,” and two “Murder Mystery” movies for the streamer.
“Happy Gilmore 2” will start streaming on Netflix on Friday, July 25.