Air Bud is returning in Air Bud Returns.

      The dog who loves basketball is making a comeback, and this time Air Bud will adopt a meta perspective. Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment have announced the release of Air Bud Returns, which is both written and directed by Robert Vince, the founder of Air Bud Entertainment and director of ten out of the fifteen previous films. He has also produced all the original movies, including spin-offs like Santa Paws.

      “Anyone who pays attention to box office trends knows we are at a significant moment where '90s and early 2000s nostalgia intersects with millennial parents searching for family-friendly films to enjoy with their children,” stated Yolanda Macias, Cineverse's chief motion pictures officer. “The return of an iconic franchise that has endured since Robert launched the original Air Bud more than 28 years ago is a real treat for fans of all ages. This project is perfect for us as we broaden our theatrical focus to include the kids and family genre.”

      According to the press release, “In Air Bud Returns, 12-year-old Jacob has always aspired to be a star basketball player. Following his father's passing, that dream seems more distant than ever. However, everything changes when Jacob and his mother relocate to his father's childhood home in Fernfield. There, he finds an original VHS tape of the 'Air Bud' movie among his father's possessions and has a chance encounter with a stray golden retriever he names Buddy. Together, they embark on a healing journey, rally a team of misfits, and pursue a championship. Throughout their adventure, they learn the importance of playing from the heart, believing in one another, and seizing every opportunity!”

      Filming is scheduled to commence this summer in Fort Langley, British Columbia, which is also where the original was filmed. Air Bud Returns is set to be released in the summer of 2026.

      About EJ Moreno: EJ Moreno is a film and television critic and entertainment writer who joined the pop culture site Flickering Myth in 2018 and is now the executive producer of Flickering Myth TV, a YouTube channel boasting over 27,000 subscribers. With more than a decade of experience, he is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of the Critics Choice Association and GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.