Julie Bowen Says Reuniting with 'Lovely' Adam Sandler onHappy Gilmore 2Feels 'Big' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

It’s been nearly 30 years sinceHappy Gilmorecame out in 1996, andJulie Bowen, who is now back on set withAdam Sandlerfilming the sequel, says it feels like a serious production this time around.“This one feels big,” says Bowen, 54, who is currently starring in the Peacock seriesHysteria!“Really huge. Every day it feels big.“She tells PEOPLE there are also plenty of starry cameos — just none that she can talk about yet.“Every day I got to work, I’m like, ‘Is that…?’ I’m not allowed to say who’s in it, but I’m just like, ‘What?!’ But these people all showed up for Adam because Adam makes everybody feel like they’re welcome, and he’s just so gracious and lovely,” she says.Adam Sandler and Julie Bowen in 1996.Alan Berliner/BEI/ShutterstockShe notes that Sandler’s longtime friends from growing up are also involved in the production.“All of his friends, either from growing up or the ones he’s met along the way, they’re all part of the production or they’re in it,” says Bowen. “Adam has gotten to be so multi-dimensional. He always was, but he’s gotten only richer, not money, but as a person.“Though she’s excited about the sequel, Bowen admits she hasn’t even seen the original since the premiere.Julie Bowen on Oct. 6, 2023.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty"I’ve seen chunks of it here and there,” she says about catching clips on YouTube or social media. “The Bob Barker sequence will pop up on some feed for some reason. I’m like, ‘God that was good.’ That one always makes me laugh. And anything with Carl Weathers was hilarious.“So far, returning stars from the original include Bowen, who plays Sandler’s love interest Virginia, and Christopher McDonald, who played Gilmore’s enemy Shooter McGavin. Newcomers include Margaret Qualley and Bad Bunny.In August 2024, Sandler, 58, teased a little bit about the plot on Travis and Jason Kelce’sNew Heightspodcast.“The movie itself picks up from an older guy who played golf a long time. Some stuff goes on in his life, and he’s different and he’s a bit of a mess,” Sandler said. “And then we try to get his life cooking again.“Julie Bowen, Frances Bay and Adam Sandler in “Happy Gilmore” (1996).Universal/EverettNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Bowen recently said her own teen sons only justwatched the moviefor the first time. “They had heard I’m in lingerie with two pitchers of beer, which is true, but it’s not like sexy, it’s more funny,” she told Sherri Shepherd on Oct. 17.“Just last night, one of them watched it,” Bowen said, noting that she wasn’t sure if they loved it or not, saying, “I have not gotten the review yet!”

It’s been nearly 30 years sinceHappy Gilmorecame out in 1996, andJulie Bowen, who is now back on set withAdam Sandlerfilming the sequel, says it feels like a serious production this time around.

“This one feels big,” says Bowen, 54, who is currently starring in the Peacock seriesHysteria!“Really huge. Every day it feels big.”

She tells PEOPLE there are also plenty of starry cameos — just none that she can talk about yet.

“Every day I got to work, I’m like, ‘Is that…?’ I’m not allowed to say who’s in it, but I’m just like, ‘What?!’ But these people all showed up for Adam because Adam makes everybody feel like they’re welcome, and he’s just so gracious and lovely,” she says.

Adam Sandler and Julie Bowen in 1996.Alan Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

Alan Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

She notes that Sandler’s longtime friends from growing up are also involved in the production.

“All of his friends, either from growing up or the ones he’s met along the way, they’re all part of the production or they’re in it,” says Bowen. “Adam has gotten to be so multi-dimensional. He always was, but he’s gotten only richer, not money, but as a person.”

Though she’s excited about the sequel, Bowen admits she hasn’t even seen the original since the premiere.

Julie Bowen on Oct. 6, 2023.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

“I’ve seen chunks of it here and there,” she says about catching clips on YouTube or social media. “The Bob Barker sequence will pop up on some feed for some reason. I’m like, ‘God that was good.’ That one always makes me laugh. And anything with Carl Weathers was hilarious.”

So far, returning stars from the original include Bowen, who plays Sandler’s love interest Virginia, and Christopher McDonald, who played Gilmore’s enemy Shooter McGavin. Newcomers include Margaret Qualley and Bad Bunny.

In August 2024, Sandler, 58, teased a little bit about the plot on Travis and Jason Kelce’sNew Heightspodcast.

“The movie itself picks up from an older guy who played golf a long time. Some stuff goes on in his life, and he’s different and he’s a bit of a mess,” Sandler said. “And then we try to get his life cooking again.”

Julie Bowen, Frances Bay and Adam Sandler in “Happy Gilmore” (1996).Universal/Everett

Universal/Everett

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Bowen recently said her own teen sons only justwatched the moviefor the first time. “They had heard I’m in lingerie with two pitchers of beer, which is true, but it’s not like sexy, it’s more funny,” she told Sherri Shepherd on Oct. 17.

“Just last night, one of them watched it,” Bowen said, noting that she wasn’t sure if they loved it or not, saying, “I have not gotten the review yet!”

source: people.com