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- Julie Bowen Says She Thought a Younger Actress Would Replace Her in "Happy Gilmore 2": 'Who Am I Supposed to Be?'</p>
<p>Ashley VegaJuly 4, 2025 at 10:19 PM</p>
<p>JC Olivera/Getty; Michael Buckner/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty</p>
<p>Julie Bowen in Los Angeles on Oct. 24, 2024; Adam Sandler in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 5, 2025</p>
<p>Julie Bowen revealed on the Inside of You podcast that she assumed Happy Gilmore 2 would cast a younger woman as Adam Sandler's love interest</p>
<p>Bowen played Virginia Venit, who falls for Sandler's Happy Gilmore, in the original 1996 comedy</p>
<p>She previously shared that her son believed a rumor that Sydney Sweeney would be cast as the new romantic lead</p>
<p>Julie Bowen never expected to step back onto the golf course with Adam Sandler for Happy Gilmore 2.</p>
<p>The Emmy-winning actress, who played Sandler's love interest in the original 1996 film, opened up on the Inside of You podcast about her genuine surprise at being asked to reprise her role as Virginia Venit in the highly anticipated Netflix sequel.</p>
<p>"I didn't think they'd bring me back at all," admitted Bowen, 55. "I mean, who am I supposed to be? He's got to have a younger woman in this one, Happy Gilmore 2."</p>
<p>The Modern Family alum explained that she assumed producers would go in a different direction for the sequel, casting a new, younger love interest for Sandler's iconic character.</p>
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<p>Moviestore/Shutterstock</p>
<p>Julie Bowen (R) in Happy Gilmore (1996)</p>
<p>And Bowen's doubts aren't new. She previously told The Hollywood Reporter that she thought Sandler's Happy would have a "little bitty" cart girl by his side this time around.</p>
<p>The idea wasn't just random speculation, as her own teenage son, Oliver, once told her he'd heard a rumor online that Sydney Sweeney would play the new romantic lead.</p>
<p>"And I went, 'I'm hurt and I so respect that move.' Of course. Why wouldn't you?" Bowen recalled.</p>
<p>In the original 1996 comedy, Bowen's Virginia was the level-headed PR director who helped Happy (Sandler, 58) clean up his image on the pro-golf circuit and eventually fell for his wild charm.</p>
<p>The sequel's trailer reveals that Virginia and Happy went on to have a family together, but Bowen says her role in the new film is brief.</p>
<p>Still, Sandler himself encouraged her to embrace her part. "Adam's like, 'Stop saying that. You're the heart of the movie,' " she shared on the podcast.</p>
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<p>Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic</p>
<p>Julie Bowen in Inglewood, California, on May 31, 2025</p>
<p>Bowen also reflected on her first audition for Happy Gilmore 30 years ago, reading for the role alongside other women and feeling convinced the filmmakers were looking for someone "aggressively sexy." Instead, she landed the part and became a fan favorite.</p>
<p>"I read and they were relieved," the actress shared. "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?' "</p>
<p>Happy Gilmore 2 premieres July 25 on Netflix.</p>
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