Meanwhile, Sandler and Bowen reacted to Bowen’s shocking “Happy Gilmore 2” death during an interview with Entertainment Weekly published shortly after the movie’s release. The “Modern Family” star suggested that her character needed to die to drive Happy and the events of the film.

In the first film in 1996 featuring Sandler as the accidental golfer, Happy’s “happy place” is a dreamy scene where love interest Virginia (Bowen) is clad in white lingerie and double-fisting pitchers of beer.

The release of “ Happy Gilmore 2 ,” the Netflix sequel to the 1996 comedy hit, is just days away. While Hollywood hot shots might be sweating audience awareness polls or gauging social media chatter, Tim Herlihy — who co-wrote both films with star Adam Sandler — has a more pressing concern: catching up with yard work at his quiet Connecticut home.

The wait is finally over: Happy Gilmore 2 is here! The long-awaited sequel to Happy Gilmore is set 29 years after the first film and follows Happy (Adam Sandler) coming out of retirement to pay for his daughter’s ballet school.