There is no rule that says a dog can’t play basketball … nor is there a rule that says another Air Bud film can’t be made. That is exactly what is about to happen: Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment are partnering to helm a new film in the fan-favorite sports franchise, Air Bud Returns, according to Variety, and have set it for a 2026 release. While the Air Bud films have been critically panned, they have garnered a cult following, and now a new dog will be stepping up to the hoop.
The film, which will be the 15th in the Air Bud franchise, will follow 12-year-old Jacob, who has “always dreamed of being a basketball star,” according to a summary of the film. “After the passing of his father, that dream felt even more impossible. But everything changes when he and his mom move into his dad’s childhood home in Fernfield. There, Jacob discovers an original VHS of the Air Bud movie in his father’s belongings and has a chance meeting of a stray golden retriever he names Buddy. Together they embark on a journey of healing, unite a team of misfits, and chase a championship. Through it all they learn to play from the heart, believe in each other, and always take the shot!”
Air Bud Returns will be written and directed by Robert Vince, the founder of Air Bud Entertainment. Vince was a producer on all of the original Air Bud spinoffs and also wrote and directed 10 of them. But while the summary does sound similar to the original 1997 film, Vince maintains this isn’t the case. “Air Bud Returns isn’t just another sequel or remake — it’s a unique story,” Vince said in a statement. “This movie will engage nostalgic Air Bud fans while introducing a new generation to the beloved basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy.”
‘Air Bud’ Has Garnered a Big Following
While the Air Bud films have been critical failures, they have become iconic films in their own right, with the original film taking its place among the most well-regarged sports films of the 1990s. That film, which starred Kevin Zegers, was distributed by Disney, and the studio helped to make it a household name and spawn a franchise which included four more feature Air Bud films. Beyond this, a slew of spinoff films about puppies, the Air Buddies franchise, has also contained a number of installments.
It will be interesting to see where Cineverse takes the upcoming film, as the studio is best known for its adult films and horror projects — in fact, Air Bud Returns will be the studio’s first kids and family film. No casting has been announced, but Air Bud Returns is set to be released in summer 2026, so more news is likely on the horizon.
The other Air Bud films are streaming now.
via Collider