Julie Bowen, 55, recently revealed her amusement upon learning that her character, Virginia Venit, dies early in the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2 film. Reprising her role from the original 1996 comedy, Bowen admitted she laughed out loud when she discovered her character’s fate. Speaking to People magazine, she explained that she was on holiday with limited Wi-Fi and could barely read the script on her phone, but when she realised the character is killed off on page 12, she found it hilarious. She added that despite the news, she thought it was a great plot twist, as “Happy can’t be happy” without some conflict.
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Bowen expressed enjoyment in returning to the franchise, regardless of the size of her role. She said it was “just fun to be part of the whole thing” and showed enthusiasm about being involved again, even if only in a minor capacity. The actress emphasised that being connected to the Happy Gilmore universe, after nearly 30 years, was an exciting opportunity she didn’t want to miss.
Before learning she would reprise her role, Julie assumed another actress would replace her. She mentioned to The Hollywood Reporter that she believed Sydney Sweeney, 27, was cast as a younger character to fill the part. Bowen’s children had even mentioned the sequel and Sweeney’s involvement before she had been officially informed. She respected the casting choice and initially thought she might not be included in the film.
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When Julie finally received the call confirming her participation, she was pleasantly surprised and even questioned if it was a joke. Her openness and good humour throughout the process reflect her positive attitude towards returning to the much-loved comedy series. Fans can look forward to seeing her in Happy Gilmore 2 alongside new and familiar faces alike.
