Air Bud Returns

Air Bud Returns is an upcoming American sports comedy-drama film written and directed by Robert Vince. It is the 15th film in the Air Bud series, and the first to be released theatrically since 1998.
The film is scheduled to be released in the United States by Cineverse in 2026.

Premise

12-year-old Jacob, coping with his father's death, moves with his mother to Fernfield, Washington. There, he finds a VHS copy of Air Bud and befriends a stray Golden Retriever named Buddy. Together, they join local children to form a basketball team and compete for a championship.

Cast

Aydin Artis as Jacob, Buddy's new owner
Tracy Ifeachor as Jasmine, Jacob's widowed mother
Edwin Lee Gibson as Jack
Tyler Labine as Walter
Erik Gow as Marvin
Maxim Swinton as Adam
Charlie & Summer as Buddy
Production

In July 2025, Cineverse announced that they were developing a new film in the Air Bud series, titled Air Bud Returns with Robert Vince writing, directing, and producing. Vince served as a producer on all of the previous Air Bud films. Golden Retrievers Charlie and Summer were selected from over 5,000 dogs to double as Buddy in basketball and stunt sequences. In October 2025, Aydin Artis, Tracy Ifeachor, Edwin Lee Gibson, Tyler Labine, Erik Gow, and Maxim Swinton joined the cast.
Principal photography began in Fort Langley, British Columbia on October 9, 2025. Production on Air Bud Returns has been announced to have wrapped on November 15, 2025.

Release

Air Bud Returns is scheduled to be released in theatres in the United States by Cineverse in 2026, making it the first in the Air Bud franchise to be theatrically released since its sequel, Golden Receiver in 1998.