One Happy Gilmore 2 star was convinced they would be replaced in the upcoming sequel. The original comedy, directed by Dennis Dugan, premiered in 1996 and garnered a loyal fandom.
Starring Adam Sandler, it explores an aspiring professional hockey player who discovers he is talented at golf, and could make money from it. Along with Sandler, the cast includes Carl Weathers, Frances Bay, Julie Bowen, and Christopher McDonald. Happy Gilmore 2 will release on Netflix on July 25, and Sandler and many other stars have returned.
Julie Bowen recently appeared on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, and discussed reprising her role in Happy Gilmore 2. Bowen revealed that she was convinced the sequel would not include her and added that Happy should have “a younger woman.”
Later in the episode, Bowen notes that she does not have as much screentime in Happy Gilmore 2 as in the first film, although she has not seen the final cut, and Sandler insists that she is “the heart of the movie.” Read some of her other comments below:
I didn’t think they’d bring me back at all. I mean, who am I supposed to be? He’s got to have a younger woman in this one, Happy Gilmore 2.
What This Means For Happy Gilmore 2
Happy & Virginia May Still Be Together
Bowen portrayed Virginia Venit in the original Happy Gilmore, who worked in public relations for the pro golf tour. Besides Happy trying to win enough money for his grandmother’s home, his romance with Virginia became a major storyline.
While she continued to promote him, despite some public antics, Virginia and Happy eventually began dating. Their future, though seemingly optimistic, was unclear, but the Happy Gilmore 2 trailer reveals that Virginia and Happy are together.
From the Happy Gilmore 2 footage, audiences have seen that Virginia is encouraging Happy to golf and that they may have a family. Bowen also previously teased that there will be flashbacks in the sequel, so perhaps more of their romance will be explored from the past.
What else happens, and how much Virginia is in the final cut of Happy Gilmore 2, is unknown, but having her character come back signals that the movie may be similar to the original.
Our Take On Happy Gilmore 2
Having Original Stars Come Back Is Important
When bringing back a fan-favorite movie, decades after it premiered, having original stars return is usually crucial to its success. Bowen portraying Virginia again likely has audiences excited, but there are several other actors reprising their roles in Happy Gilmore 2. McDonald, Kevin Nealon, and Ben Stiller have all been confirmed to be in the sequel as well.
While many details surrounding the film are still unknown, it will be interesting to see what kind of story is created to incorporate new and returning cast members. When it comes to Bowen’s character, hopefully the romance between Virginia and Happy remains a bright spot and is potentially expanded on in Happy Gilmore 2.
Source: Inside of You
