Happy Gilmore fans might not have been able to imagine the forthcoming Netflix sequel happening without Julie Bowen; however, it seems Bowen never expected to return for Happy Gilmore 2.
Bowen recently visited the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast and discussed her impressive career. There, she revealed her doubts about making it into the original Happy Gilmore. She thought casting directors would want someone “aggressively sexy,” and was surprised when she landed the part by taking her audition in a more wholesome direction.
Despite her important role in the original film, Bowen still had doubts that she would be brought back. “I mean, who am I supposed to be? He’s got to have a younger woman in this one, Happy Gilmore 2,” she explained to Rosenbaum. Bowen had even heard a rumor that Sydney Sweeney was set to replace her in the film.
Fortunately, Bowen was enthusiastically invited back to the film, where Virginia seems to have started a family with Happy. She also described Sandler’s reaction to her doubts and downplaying of the character’s importance. “Adam’s like, ‘Stop saying that. You’re the heart of the movie,’” she said on the podcast.
Sandler’s assurances are a breath of fresh air. While it’s never a guarantee that smaller characters will return to a sequel, it is more common to see the women get left behind. Top Gun: Maverick faced some controversy when filmmakers did not include Kelly McGillis, the main love interest from Top Gun, or Meg Ryan, the wife of the ill-fated Goose. Their absence was explained as a way to focus on new storylines, but fans were initially perplexed by the decision.
Fortunately, Happy Gilmore 2 opted to keep Virginia and Happy together. This way, fans can see how their relationship has grown over time, rather than breaking them up and leaving us to wonder what went wrong.
Bowen originally played Virginia Venit opposite Adam Sandler’s titular character in the 1996 comedy. Virginia helped rehab Happy’s image while simultaneously falling in love with him.
In addition to Bowen, Happy Gilmore 2 will see the returns of Ben Stiller and Christopher McDonald, while welcoming a handful of new additions including Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny), Sandler's daughters Sadie and Sunny Sandler, and Blake Clark. Jackie Sandler, Eric André, Margaret Qualley, Martin Herlihy, Tim Herlihy, Travis Kelce, Nelly Korda, Nancy Lopez, Verne Lundquist, Jack Giarraputo, Kevin Nealon, Benny Safdie, John Farley, Kym Whitley, Lavell Crawford, Ken Jennings, Cam'ron, Eminem, Post Malone, Marcello Hernandez, Dan Patrick, Oliver Hudson, Reggie Bush, Becky Lynch, Nikki Garcia, and Jack Nicklaus, are also set to appear in the film.
Happy Gilmore 2 premiers July 25 on Netflix.
More from FlickSided: