New 'Air Bud' film in the works, search for the next golden retriever is on
Almost three decades after the first "Air Bud" became a sleeper hit, creator and producer of the 14-film franchise Robert Vince announced a new film, "Air Bud Returns," is in the works, and that Air Bud Entertainment is looking "to discover the next golden retriever to carry the 25-year legacy forward."
"We introduced the world to an incredible golden retriever called Air Bud," Vince says in the Aug. 8 video posted to the Air Bud TV YouTube page. "He proved to the world that anything is possible. Now, we're bringing Buddy back to the big screen with an all-new movie called 'Air Bud Returns'."
Vince noted that auditions for the next Air Bud pup are being conducted for the first time.
The new film, which will be written and directed by Vince, will mark "the reboot of the iconic family franchise," according to a news release, and is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2026.
Air Bud qualities
"Air Bud Returns" producers are searching for a golden retriever who can embody "the charm, athleticism, and heart that made Air Bud a beloved character," the news release says.
The film's lead animal trainer, Mark Forbes, also appeared in the video and outlined the requirements for submissions.
The next Air Bud needs to be a purebred golden retriever, athletic and "ideally, he would love basketball, just like the original Air Bud," Forbes said.
How to apply to be Air Bud
Dog owners across the country are invited "to submit their purebred golden retrievers to be part of the Air Bud legacy."
To enter, participants can visit the official Air Bud website and submit their dogs' portfolios. There is no restriction on gender, according to Air Bud Entertainment.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 22, and so far producers have received thousands of submissions, Air Bud Entertainment said.
While only one dog will be selected to be the next Air Bud, "all submissions will be eligible to win a variety of prizes" such as official Air Bud jerseys, signed movie merchandise and a trip to the Hollywood premiere, according to the news release.
USA Today Pets is also looking for submissions if you think your dog has what it takes to be a star. If you want the chance to see your furry friend on our site, submit some photos here!
What will 'Air Bud Returns' be about?
"Air Bud Returns" will follow 12-year-old Jacob, who "has always dreamt of being a star basketball player, according to the news release. However, after the death of his father, that "dream felt even more impossible."
But when he and his mom move into his dad's childhood home, "everything changes."
"There, Jacob discovers an original VHS of the 'Air Bud' movie in his father's belongings and has a chance meeting of a neglected golden retriever he names Buddy," the film's synopsis says. "Together, they embark on a journey of healing, unite a team of misfits, and chase a championship."
In addition to casting for Air Bud, Air Bud Entertainment is also partnering with Hollywood's premier animal trainers, Birds & Animals Unlimited, to fill a variety of positions on the film, the news release added.
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The original 'Air Bud'
The original "Air Bud," which was released in 1997, told the story of Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers), a little boy who discovers an abandoned golden retriever that somehow knows how to play basketball. The movie went on to spawn multiple sequels and spinoffs, featuring golden retrievers playing soccer, baseball, volleyball and even traveling into space.
The original Air Bud was played by Buddy, a golden retriever from California who was rescued as a stray by actor and writer Kevin DiCicco in 1989, according to a 1992 report in the Los Angeles Times. Buddy was thrust into the limelight after he appeared on "America's Funniest Home Videos", "Late Night with David Letterman," and even a few NBA games, before being cast as the basketball-playing pooch in the 1997 film. Buddy died of cancer in his sleep in 1998 at his home in San Diego, according to reports in the Chicago Tribune and The Spokesman-Review.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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