AIR BUD Returning in Franchise’s 15th Installment AIR BUD RETURNS

Throughout my lifetime, I’ve been an avid sports enthusiast, and I understand that leagues aren’t always prompt in adapting or managing effectively. However, one would expect that by now, they would have implemented a rule to prevent dogs from participating. It seems essential. Yet, despite nearly three decades and fourteen films, they haven’t. They persistently haven’t. In simpler terms, it’s been long overdue for leagues to establish a regulation that dogs cannot play, but this has yet to happen, even after multiple movies.

And that’s how we’re about to get a 15th installment, Air Bud Returns.

According to Variety and Air Bud Entertainment, they are developing another film in a series that started back in 1997. This upcoming movie will be the 15th installment of the franchise. If you’re wondering how we got to this point, it’s because the first sequel, “Air Bud: Golden Receiver,” which premiered in theaters in 1998, was the last one. The following 12 films were all direct-to-video releases and included spinoffs like “Buddies” and “Santa Paws.” You know, those movies we all fondly remember and watched numerous times.

In a familiar move for him, Robert Vince – founder of Air Bud Entertainment – will both write and direct this upcoming film. This is a task he’s handled before, having done so for ten previous installments. Additionally, he served as producer on many of the early films in the series and on “Santa Paws”. His close association with the original “Air Bud” adds to the excitement. Even without writing it, he can take some credit for one of Hollywood’s most memorable lines: “Ain’t no rules say the dog can’t play basketball.

A press release shared by Variety provides a synopsis for the film. It unexpectedly meta.

12-year old Jacob has long nurtured the ambition of becoming a stellar basketball player. Following his father’s demise, this dream seemed unattainable. However, their relocation to his late dad’s childhood home in Fernfield brings about a transformation. Here, Jacob unearths an original VHS tape of the Air Bud movie among his father’s possessions and encounters a homeless golden retriever he names Buddy. This duo embarks on a healing journey, rallying a team of underdogs, pursuing a title, and learning to play with emotion, trust one another, and never shy away from taking chances!

Production for the sequel titled “Air Bud Returns” is set to commence soon, just like the original, in Fort Langley, British Columbia. You can expect it to hit theaters the following summer, which is 2026. The fact that it’s happening at all is a testament to how, after more than two decades, sports leagues still don’t have rules against dogs participating!

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2025-07-24 19:32