New "Air Bud" Movie in Works, Eyes 2026 Theatrical Release

One of the world's favorite golden retrievers is returning after a long absence.

“Air Bud Returns,” the latest film in the athletic canine saga, has been announced by Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment.

The film has been set for a summer 2026 release. It will be written and directed by Robert Vince, who founded ABE.

Vince was a producer on all of the original films (including franchise spinoffs like “Santa Paws”) and wrote and directed ten of them.

The original 1997 film was produced independently and Disney picked it up for distribution.

The family-friendly title became a sleeper hit and the franchise became a fixture on the rental market.

“Anyone who follows the box office knows that we are experiencing an important moment at the intersection of ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia and millennial parents looking for family-friendly movies to share with their kids,” Cineverse chief motion pictures officer Yolanda Macias said in a statement. “With the return of an iconic franchise that has remained popular since Robert created the OG Air Bud more than 28 years ago, we are offering a real treat that will resonate with fans across generations. This is the ideal first project for us as we expand our theatrical strategy to the kids and family category.”

Per the press release, “In ‘Air Bud Returns,’ 12-year old Jacob has always dreamt of being a star basketball player. 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’ 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. It builds upon the legacy of the OG ‘Air Bud’ with all the fun, the magic, heartwarming scenes, and Buddy playing basketball. More than anything, it’s a deeply human story about a dog and boy, centered on themes of adaptation, redemption, and teamwork.”

“Air Bud Returns” is the first kids and family feature from Cineverse.

The film is set to begin filming this summer in Fort Langley, British Columbia, where the original was also shot.