NEED TO KNOW
One lucky dog could be headed for Hollywood!
Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment have launched a nationwide talent search to discover the next golden retriever to star as the iconic, basketball-playing Air Bud in the upcoming Air Bud Returns, the latest installment in the classic family movie franchise.
According to a press release, the film’s producers are looking for a purebred golden retriever “to carry the 25-year legacy forward — embodying the charm, athleticism and heart that made Air Bud a beloved character.”
Families were first introduced to Air Bud in the original 1997 movie about a young boy named Bobby who befriends a golden retriever, Buddy, who can play basketball — and quite impressively.
Since then, the franchise has spawned 14 films, as well as two Christmas spin-offs.
Beginning this month, dog owners across the U.S. can submit their pets for consideration for the role on the official Air Bud website.
Fans can also follow the canine star search journey via the site, and all entrants will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, including Air Bud jerseys, signed movie merchandise and a trip to the film’s Los Angeles premiere.
RGR Collection / Alamy Stock Photo
In a video shared on the entry submission page, Robert Vince, a producer on all of the original films, announced the talent search.
“We introduced the world to an incredible golden retriever called Air Bud. He proved to the world that anything is possible,” he said. “Now, we’re bringing Buddy back to the big screen with an all-new movie. For the first time ever, we’re opening up the auditions for the next Air Bud.”
Vince then introduced the movie’s lead animal trainer, Mark Forbes, who explained exactly what the team is looking for in their new star.
“We need a dog who is a purebred golden retriever, who’s athletic and, ideally, he would love basketball, just like the original Air Bud,” he said.
According to an official synopsis, Air Bud Returns follows 12-year-old Jacob, who aspires to be a star basketball player.
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“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,” the synopsis continues. “There, Jacob discovers an original VHS of the Air Bud movie in his father’s belongings and has a chance meeting with a neglected golden retriever he names Buddy. Together, they embark on a journey of healing, unite a team of misfits, and chase a championship.”
Air Bud Returns will arrive in movie theaters in summer 2026.
