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\n Related: <\/span>Why Adam Sandler Is the Heartthrob We Want to Date: All His Green Flags<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tChris Evans, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington \u2014 we all know the typical Hollywood heartthrob who often stars in our daydreams, but if you ask Us, a different kind of leading man would actually make the perfect\u00a0real life\u00a0romantic partner. Chiseled abs and square jaw are all well and good, but there is something far more endearing [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The conversation ultimately planted a seed of doubt in Bowen\u2019s mind, which only grew over time as she and Sandler kept missing each other\u2019s phone calls. Eventually, Bowen shot her old costar a text telling him she \u201cunderstood\u201d if he wanted to go in a different direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018If this is about a sequel and I\u2019m not in it, don\u2019t worry. I get it. You need to evolve and change. I love you. I\u2019m always rooting for all your success.\u2019 And he calls me, like, \u2018Can you just shut up so I can tell you \u2014 I want you in the movie!\u2019\u201d\u00a0 she said with a laugh.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>
\n Julie Bowen, Adam Sandler<\/span> Joseph Lederer \/ \u00a9 Universal Pictures \/ Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBowen is not the only familiar face to reprise their role in the sequel. Christopher McDonald<\/strong> comes back as Happy\u2019s archenemy Shooter McGavin, and Ben Stiller<\/strong> once again plays Hal L., among many other returning stars. Some of the impressive new faces include The Substance\u2019s<\/em> Margaret Qualley<\/strong>, Travis Kelce<\/strong> and<\/a> Benito Antonio Mart\u00ednez Ocasio, a.k.a Bad Bunny<\/strong>, as Happy\u2019s caddy.<\/p>\nAs for Bowen\u2019s role, Virginia is now Virginia Gilmore, and she and Happy share five children \u2014 the couple clearly have a \u201cstrong physical connection,\u201d Bowen joked. In the film, Happy comes out of retirement to help pay for their daughter Vienna\u2019s (played by Sandler\u2019s 16-year-old daughter, Sunny) dream of attending an elite ballet school in Europe.<\/p>\n
In true Sandler fashion, fans can expect plenty of laughs from the sequel, but according to Bowen, the movie\u2019s emotional core hits closest to home as it\u2019s rooted in family \u2014 something that reflects her own life as well as her leading man\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n![\"Happy](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HG2_20241004_25742_R.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Adam Sandler<\/span> Scott Yamano\/Netflix \u00a9 2025<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201c[Virginia and Happy] both really connected over having a family and having kids and putting them first,\u201d Bowen explained. \u201cAnd that is ripped out of Adam\u2019s life and mine. We both feel the same way. Like, it doesn\u2019t really matter as long as the kids come first.\u201d (Bowen shares son Oliver, 18, and twins John and Gustav, 16, with ex-husband Scott Phillips<\/strong>, while Adam shares daughters Sadie, 19, and Sunny with wife Jackie Sandler<\/strong>.)<\/p>\nStill, returning as Happy\u2019s love interest was a little intimidating. \u201cIt was a lot less scary in 1996 [when] we shot Happy Gilmore<\/em>, because Adam, he wasn\u2019t unknown, but [he] didn\u2019t have Jennifer Aniston<\/strong> and Drew Barrymore<\/strong> and this list of people that he\u2019s worked with over and over again,\u201d she joked. \u201cI was, you know, a little intimidated to be playing his girlfriend!\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\n Julie Bowen, Adam Sandler<\/span> Joseph Lederer \/ \u00a9 Universal Pictures \/ Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Bowen is not the only familiar face to reprise their role in the sequel. Christopher McDonald<\/strong> comes back as Happy\u2019s archenemy Shooter McGavin, and Ben Stiller<\/strong> once again plays Hal L., among many other returning stars. Some of the impressive new faces include The Substance\u2019s<\/em> Margaret Qualley<\/strong>, Travis Kelce<\/strong> and<\/a> Benito Antonio Mart\u00ednez Ocasio, a.k.a Bad Bunny<\/strong>, as Happy\u2019s caddy.<\/p>\n As for Bowen\u2019s role, Virginia is now Virginia Gilmore, and she and Happy share five children \u2014 the couple clearly have a \u201cstrong physical connection,\u201d Bowen joked. In the film, Happy comes out of retirement to help pay for their daughter Vienna\u2019s (played by Sandler\u2019s 16-year-old daughter, Sunny) dream of attending an elite ballet school in Europe.<\/p>\n In true Sandler fashion, fans can expect plenty of laughs from the sequel, but according to Bowen, the movie\u2019s emotional core hits closest to home as it\u2019s rooted in family \u2014 something that reflects her own life as well as her leading man\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201c[Virginia and Happy] both really connected over having a family and having kids and putting them first,\u201d Bowen explained. \u201cAnd that is ripped out of Adam\u2019s life and mine. We both feel the same way. Like, it doesn\u2019t really matter as long as the kids come first.\u201d (Bowen shares son Oliver, 18, and twins John and Gustav, 16, with ex-husband Scott Phillips<\/strong>, while Adam shares daughters Sadie, 19, and Sunny with wife Jackie Sandler<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n Still, returning as Happy\u2019s love interest was a little intimidating. \u201cIt was a lot less scary in 1996 [when] we shot Happy Gilmore<\/em>, because Adam, he wasn\u2019t unknown, but [he] didn\u2019t have Jennifer Aniston<\/strong> and Drew Barrymore<\/strong> and this list of people that he\u2019s worked with over and over again,\u201d she joked. \u201cI was, you know, a little intimidated to be playing his girlfriend!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n Adam Sandler<\/span> Scott Yamano\/Netflix \u00a9 2025<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n