In May 2024, Netflix announced the sequel to the 1996 sports comedy “Happy Gilmore,” starring Adam Sandler — but Julie Bowen figured her role as Virginia Venit, Happy’s love interest, had long since been retired to the clubhouse.

Bowen was convinced she would be replaced with a younger actress for the sequel, which takes place 30 years after the original.

"I mean, who am I supposed to be? He's got to have a younger woman in this one, ‘Happy Gilmore 2.'" In the 1996 original, Bowen played Virginia Venit, a rep for the professional golf tour Happy joins.