National Search Underway for Next Golden Retriever to Play ‘Air Bud’ - Here’s How to Sign Up
UNITED STATES, AUG 8 – The search aims to find a purebred golden retriever to star in 'Air Bud Returns,' continuing a 25-year franchise legacy with prizes including a Hollywood premiere trip.
- On August 8, 2025, Cineverse partnered with Air Bud Entertainment to begin a nationwide casting call seeking a purebred golden retriever to feature in the upcoming film Air Bud Returns.
- This talent search seeks to continue the 25-year Air Bud tradition, with the new film set to debut in theaters during the summer of 2026.
- Air Bud Returns follows 12-year-old Jacob, who after his father's death, moves to his dad's childhood home and befriends a neglected golden retriever named Buddy.
- The production teams up with Hollywood’s top animal trainers, Birds & Animals Unlimited, and marks the eighth project involving director Robert Vince alongside lead trainer Mark Forbes, while also offering prizes to those who submit entries.
- The search and film suggest ongoing popularity for family dog stories, with Air Bud Returns marking Robert Vince’s 50th movie and a revival of the franchise.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Golden Retriever owners invited to audition for 'Air Bud Returns' in 2025
The beloved film franchise "Air Bud" is making a comeback with its 15th installment, "Air Bud Returns," set to be released next year. The producers of the series are on the hunt for a new Golden Retriever to take on…

'Air Bud Returns' opens casting call to find basketball-loving golden retriever
The poster for ‘Air Bud Returns.’ (Cineverse, Air Bud Entertainment) Does your dog have what it takes to be the next Air Bud? A nationwide casting call has opened up to find the next golden retriever to star in the upcoming film Air Bud Returns. Robert Vince, who created the Air Bud franchise and has produced all 14 of its films, made the announcement in a video shared to the official Air Bud TV YouTube channel on Friday. “For the first time eve…
‘Air Bud Returns’: Nationwide Search for Dog Star Begins
“Air Bud Returns” could make your beloved family pet a star. Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment have launched a nationwide search to discover their next golden retriever star – “embodying the charm, athleticism and heart that made Air Bud a beloved character,” according to Friday’s press release. The next chapter in the 25-year series, “Air Bud Returns,” will be written and directed by original “Air Bud” creator Robert Vince and will arrive in …
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