Julie Bowen is officially returning forHappy Gilmore 2. Bowen previously played Virginia Venit, the love interest of Happy Gilmore and a pro golf tour public relations director in the 1996 comedy film. Between 1996 and joiningHappy Gilmore 2’s cast, Bowen has had a variety of roles, the most well-known being Claire Dunphy in ABC’s popular comedy seriesModern Family, along with parts inLost,Boston Legal, and the 2021 Jenna Ortega-led filmThe Fallout.
Netflixconfirmed on X/Twitter thatBowen is reprising her role forHappy Gilmore 2, as is Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, although McDonald’s return was previously known. Check out the post below:
Happy Gilmore 2has already begun filming, with Sandler sharing a behind-the-scenes image of Happy’s memorable Boston Bruins jersey. Other than Sandler, Bowen, and McDonald, other cast members have not been announced yet, and story details are still being kept under wraps.
Can Happy Gilmore 2 Break An Adam Sandler Sequel Trend?
His Previous Sequels Have Not Been Well-Received
Despite his longtime career and the variety of projects he has undertaken,Happy Gilmore 2is only the fourth sequel that Sandler has made. His other sequels areGrown Ups 2,Hotel Transylvania 2, andMurder Mystery 2.All three of his previous sequels have received negative or lukewarm reactions from critics and general audiences, with all three resulting in rotten scores, except forHotel Transylvania 2’s barely fresh 64% audience score.
8%
53%
57%
64%
45%
46%
Happy Gilmore 2has an opportunity to end Sandler’s negative sequel trend.As a legacy sequel, it already stands out from Sandler’s previous followups, all of which were released three or four years after their predecessors.Happy Gilmoreis often considered one ofSandler’s best movies, which already makesHappy Gilmore 2the most enticing sequel that the comedic actor has done yet. Hopefully, the execution can match the anticipation.
Why Happy Gilmore Is Adam Sandler’s Best Character
Adam Sandler has a rich list of characters he’s played in films, but Happy Gilmore is his best character for a reason.
As thrilling as it is to have Sandler, Bowen, and McDonald reunited, the cast will be missing one of its most important members without Derick “Chubbs” Peterson,played by Carl Weathers, who passed away earlier in 2024. Not having Weathers' comedic enthusiasm will make it difficult forHappy Gilmore 2to live up to or surpass the original film. It may not be able to accomplish this feat, butit could still be the best-received sequel to date in Sandler’s career.
Happy Gilmore 2
Cast
Happy Gilmore 2 sees the return of Adam Sandler in his iconic role as the retired golfer who steps back onto the green to support his daughter’s passion for ballet. Released in 2025, the film explores Gilmore’s renewed journey in golf to finance her dreams.
