Air Bud Returns: Casting Revealed—Meet the New Dog Stars
Out of 5,000 hopeful hounds, Charlie and Summer have fetched the lead—picked as Air Bud’s new dog stars and now heading into training for the next film.
Air Bud fans, we have our new MVPs. Actually, make that two. The search for the next basketball-playing golden retriever is over, and yes, it involved more than 5,000 very good dogs.
Meet the new Buds
Air Bud Entertainment says two Golden Retrievers - Charlie and Summer - won the nationwide casting hunt to lead 'Air Bud Returns.' Director Robert Vance and longtime animal trainer Mark Forbes popped up in a new announcement video to introduce the winners, who will be the new dog stars of the movie.
'Air Bud Returns isn't just another sequel or remake - it's a unique story.'
That is Vance setting the tone. He also pitched it as a two-lane play: hit the nostalgia button for old-school fans while pulling in a new generation, with all the expected stuff - the magic, the heart, and yes, Buddy sinking jumpers. Underneath the tricks, he says it is about a boy and a dog, with themes like adaptation, redemption, and teamwork.
So what is this one about?
The new lead is Jacob, a 12-year-old who used to dream about being a basketball star. After his dad dies, that dream feels out of reach. When Jacob and his mom move into his dad's childhood home in Fernfield, he finds an old VHS tape of the original 'Air Bud' among his father's things. Not long after, he crosses paths with a stray golden he names Buddy. From there, it is the classic Air Bud formula with a personal twist: bonding with the dog helps Jacob heal, rally a team of misfits, and make a run at a title. Along the way, the lesson plan is simple: play from the heart, trust your people, and take the shot.
Quick hits
- Winners: Charlie and Summer, both Golden Retrievers, selected from over 5,000 entries in a nationwide search.
- Who announced it: Air Bud Entertainment, via a video featuring director Robert Vance and animal trainer Mark Forbes.
- Strategy: Vance says the film aims to satisfy longtime fans and introduce kids to Buddy, delivering the franchise's mix of warmth and hoops with a fresh story.
- Partner: Cineverse is teaming with Air Bud Entertainment. Yolanda Macias - identified as Cineverse's chief motion pictures officer - frames it as a perfect play for the current wave of 90s and early 2000s nostalgia and millennial parents hunting for family movies, and as a launchpad for Cineverse's broader kids-and-family theatrical push.
- Production: Filming starts October 1 in Fort Langley, British Columbia - the same place the original was shot almost 30 years ago.
Inside-baseball bits
The movie-within-the-movie VHS detail is a fun meta touch. Also, returning to Fort Langley is a nice home-court advantage for nostalgia. And yes, that job title for Macias is a little unusual, but that is how it is billed here. As for the dogs, casting two Goldens tracks with how animal-led productions usually work. Expect Charlie and Summer to tag-team the workload like seasoned vets.