Julie Bowen was taken aback when Adam Sandler reached out to invite her back for ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. She had anticipated that producers would cast a younger woman for the role. “I didn’t think they’d bring me back at all,” Bowen shared during a recent episode of the Inside of You podcast. “I mean, who am I supposed to be? He’s got to have a younger woman in this one, Happy Gilmore 2.”
Previously, Bowen expressed her doubts about returning, telling The Hollywood Reporter that she envisioned a scenario where Happy (Sandler) would be paired with a “little bitty” cart girl. She even entertained rumors that her teenage son had heard, suggesting that Sydney Sweeney would take her place as the golfer’s love interest.
In the original 1996 film, Bowen portrayed Virginia Venit, a public relations representative for the golf tour that Happy participates in. Her character assists him in polishing his image after fellow players criticize his fiery temperament. Ultimately, romance blossoms between them, and the sequel’s trailer hints that they went on to start a family.
Reflecting on her initial casting, Bowen revealed that she had doubts about landing the role back then too. She recalled auditioning alongside glamorous actresses and assumed they were looking for someone who fit the archetype of a “hot girl” for Virginia. “I read and they were relieved,” Bowen recounted. “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?'”
Although Bowen has yet to view the final cut of the new film, she noted that her presence is limited. However, she disclosed that Sandler urged her not to downplay her significance in the film. “Adam’s like, ‘Stop saying that. You’re the heart of the movie,'” she remarked.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is set to premiere on Netflix on July 25. For the full conversation with Bowen, tune into the latest episode of the Inside of You podcast.
