Julie Bowen Feared Replacement in Happy Gilmore 2, But She’s Back
Another midlife hazard popped up at Netflix’s Tudum: Julie Bowen casually assumed she was too old for Happy Gilmore 2. The Modern Family vet told The Hollywood Reporter she first heard about the sequel and thought, “Well, I won’t be in it,” because nothing says “romantic lead” like a 30-year commitment to a golf-centric comedy. Bowen dryly noted that Virginia Venit had been gathering dust for three decades—hardly a spring chicken in Sandlerverse terms.
Bowen’s fear of being benched was so real she pictured Adam Sandler trading her in for a generic “cart girl hottie.” She even joked her son Oliver, 18, was convinced Sydney Sweeney would wheel onto the set wearing a visor and a bright smile. “I’m hurt, and I so respect that move,” Bowen quipped to E! News, trying to bottle her wounded pride in a thermos of irony. Meanwhile, her twins John and Gustav, 16, reportedly asked her if she needed emotional support—or a face-lift.
Before her acceptance speech could be written, Bowen prepped for a graceful exit. She told E! News she was braced for the call telling her she’d been cut. “If this is to tell me I’m not in it, don’t worry. I love you. Don’t even give it a second thought,” she said, imagining a mutual nod and an early bedtime. Instead, Sandler replied, “No, you idiot!”—a blunt reunion invitation that left Bowen both amused and reassured.
Far from being a cameo consolation prize, Bowen’s return slots her alongside Christopher McDonald, reprising Shooter McGavin, plus a motley crew of guests: NFL star Travis Kelce, rapper Bad Bunny, actress Margaret Qualley and even Eminem. McDonald told E! News the set felt like “a reunion tour,” admitting he “might have leaked it a little too early.” Fortified by nostalgia (and NDAs), the original duo will tee off on Netflix July 25.
Bowen’s unexpected comeback speaks volumes about Hollywood’s ageist whispers—yet also proves experience still counts when the script calls for cringe-worthy banter and cart-based slapstick. She may have a few more laugh lines and fewer hair pores than when she debuted in 1996, but apparently that’s no obstacle to reclaiming her spot beside a melting-down golf pro.
In an industry that pines for perpetual youth, Bowen’s saga is a small victory lap: a reminder that middle-aged actors can still dodge the bench. Tune in next time for more casting paranoia, reluctant nostalgia trips and the ever-present threat of a “younger replacement.” Let’s pretend we learned something and move on.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The Hollywood Reporter, E! News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
