Released on Aug. 1, 1997, “Air Bud” is a movie franchise that has won over millions of hearts with its portrayal of loyalty and love.
The story features a young boy named Josh Framm who is recovering from the unexpected loss of his father. With a move to a new town, Josh has a hard time making friends and finding hobbies that he enjoys, other than basketball, which he played with his father. He shows up at the school’s basketball tryouts, only to watch and end up as team manager. Soon, an abandoned golden retriever appears in Josh’s life, having a unique talent for playing basketball. Josh names the golden retriever Buddy, and the two form an unbreakable bond. However, when Buddy’s cruel old owner shows up to reclaim him, the two must defend themselves and prove their friendship.
The “Air Bud” franchise also contains many spin-off movies, where Buddy competes in sports including football, soccer and baseball, as well as films featuring his puppies called “Air Buddies.”
Hannah Kuhn (11) loves the “Air Buddies” movies and reflects on how they resonated with her childhood.
“As a kid, I loved the ‘Air Buddies’ movies because the dogs could talk, and I thought that was cool. I liked the adventures they took and enjoyed watching the puppies dress up as superheroes and in Halloween costumes. Watching those movies inspired me to make my own adventures,” Kuhn said.
“Air Bud Returns” is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026, where director Robert Vince brings the love and talent of a golden retriever back to the screens. Casting for the upcoming movie was just completed, with over 5,000 canines auditioning for the role. The team ultimately decided on golden retrievers Summer and Charlie.
Robert Vince, the writer and director of “Air Bud Returns,” shares his experience of what they were looking for when casting the star pups.
“We weren’t just looking for well-trained dogs — we were looking for that special spark. Charlie and Summer had the presence, the personality, and yes, the basketball skills to make audiences believe in Buddy all over again. They carry the magic that made the original so unforgettable,” Vince said on variety.com.
Filming began on Oct. 1, 2025, in Vancouver, Canada, and the story features a 12-year-old boy who finds his father’s Video Home System tape of the 1997 movie “Air Bud.” He then befriends a stray dog, with whom he forms a powerful bond, and they work together to chase basketball dreams and rally underdogs.
Maleena Keut (11) is amazed at how well dogs can act in movies, specifically Summer and Charlie in the upcoming “Air Bud Returns.”
“I think dogs being actors is so cool. In movies these days, I feel like there aren’t as many dog actors as there were in the 2000s, and maybe that means that the dog-talking genre of movies is getting cheugy or cringe now, but from what I can remember, I loved seeing dogs act in movies,” Keut said. “Being trained to do certain things on cue and understanding the human actor despite the unfamiliarity at first is so impressive, especially when they can bark, cry or respond on the spot.”
