Air Bud Is Bringing Buddy Back to the Big Screen After Nearly 30 Years

There aren’t many golden retrievers who can say they defined a generation, but Buddy might be one of them. The ‘Air Bud Returns’ legacy sequel is bringing the basketball-playing dog back to theaters for the first time in decades. ‘Air Bud’ received mixed reviews but was a commercial success, grossing $4 million in its opening weekend and $27.8 million overall against an estimated $3 million budget.

That first film launched a long-running franchise. This is the 15th film in the ‘Air Bud’ series, and the first released theatrically since ‘Air Bud: Golden Receiver’ in 1998. It is also the first ‘Air Bud’ film distributed by Cineverse instead of Disney.

Now fans have another look at Buddy’s comeback. DiscussingFilm shared a new 51-second trailer for the legacy sequel, released through Cineplex, which opens with a close-up of sneakers squeaking across a hardwood court. ‘Air Bud Returns’ hits theaters on January 22, 2027.

The story mirrors the original film. According to the official synopsis, “After the passing of his father, 14-year-old Jacob and his mom move into his dad’s childhood home in Fernfield, where anything is possible.

Jacob dreams of becoming a basketball star, which seems further away than ever, until he discovers a VHS marked Air Bud.” From there, “Jacob has a miraculous chance meeting with a basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy. The duo embarks on a journey of healing, unites a basketball team of misfits, and chases a championship as the new Timberwolves.”

The new trailer for ‘AIR BUD’ legacy sequel has been released. In theaters on January 22, 2027. https://t.co/kcXuRgWZU0

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 6, 2026

The Fernfield setting and the Timberwolves team name tie directly back to the 1997 film. In the original, young Josh, played by Kevin Zegers, is lonely and sullen in his new home after the death of his father, a test pilot, until he discovers an abandoned court and starts shooting hoops.

The legacy sequel has an all-new human cast. Aydin Artis plays Jacob, and Tracy Ifeachor plays his mother, Jasmine, alongside Edwin Lee Gibson, Tyler Labine, Erik Gow and Maxim Swinton. Canine actors Charlie and Summer share the role of Buddy.

No CGI dog or AI dog was used in Air Bud Returns. All golden retrievers are 100% real. 🐾 AIR BUD RETURNS is coming to theaters January 22, 2027. 🎬🍿 https://t.co/ewWcPQykDA

— Air Bud 🏀🐕 (@AIRBUD) July 27, 2026

Finding the right dog took a lot of searching. The film was shot in Vancouver, and Charlie and Summer were chosen from more than 5,000 candidates. Production on the film wrapped on November 15, 2025.

The man behind the series is still in charge. Air Bud Entertainment founder Robert Vince wrote and directed the film, and he previously produced all 14 other films in the franchise and wrote and directed 10 of them. When the project was announced, Vince called it a unique story rather than just another sequel or remake.

He also said the movie is meant for 2 audiences: nostalgic ‘Air Bud’ fans and a new generation meeting Buddy for the first time. He described it, above all, as a human story about a boy and his dog, built around adaptation, redemption and teamwork.

Getting Buddy back into theaters has taken several detours. Cineverse originally eyed a 2026 theatrical release before Deadline reported a late-summer date. Then, at CinemaCon on April 14, 2026, the release was pushed back to January 2027, along with a sneak peek of the cast and the film.

The trailers have embraced the franchise’s legacy. One earlier trailer opens by calling Buddy “the player that defined a generation and became the original underdog,” over clips of the dog outplaying everyone on the court. With more than 1 billion people in over 30 languages having watched the original ‘Air Bud’, according to a press release, Cineverse is clearly hoping that nostalgia sells tickets.

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