By India McCarty
AIR BUD RETURNS has officially found its stars! Meet Charlie and Summer, the Golden Retrievers who are taking on the role.
“The search for the next Air Bud has been an incredible journey,” Robert Vince, writer and director of AIR BUD RETURNS, shared. “We weren’t just looking for well-trained dogs — we were looking for that special spark.”
He continued, “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.”
Related: Could Your Dog Be the Next AIR BUD?
“After narrowing thousands of submissions down to 30 finalists, and then four, our team selected Charlie and Summer as the two Goldens who best embody Buddy’s athleticism, charm, and heart,” the AIR BUD website shared. “Charlie and Summer will undergo training with professional animal trainers before making their big-screen debut in Air Bud Returns, which begins filming October 1, 2025, in Vancouver, Canada.”
An official description of AIR BUD RETURNS reads, “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,” the description continues. “Through it all they learn to play from the heart, believe in each other, and always take the shot!”
Charlie and Summer were found in a nationwide search for the new Air Bud that was launched earlier this year.
“We introduced the world to an incredible golden retriever called Air Bud. He proved to the world that anything is possible,” Vince said in a YouTube video announcing the search. “For the first time ever, we’re opening up the auditions for the next Air Bud.”
Animal trainer Mark Forbes added, “We’re launching a nationwide search for our final 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.”
“When you get the chance, you always take the shot,” Vince finished.
AIR BUD RETURNS is expected to premiere fall of 2026. We can’t wait!
Read Next: This Athletic Pup Heads Back to the Court for a Brand New Movie
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