WASHINGTON — The makers of Air Bud are launching a nationwide search to find the next canine basketball star. 

Entertainment studio Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment have announced the launch of a nationwide talent search to discover the next golden retriever to continue the 25-year film legacy of the iconic Air Bud character.

Air Bud Returns is set to be the 15th film in the franchise and will follow 12-year-old Jacob, who, after the death of his father, moves with his mother to his dad’s childhood home in Fernfield. 

There, he finds an old Air Bud VHS tape and meets a neglected golden retriever he names Buddy. Together, they unite a team of misfits and go on a journey to play in a basketball championship.

The new movie is written and directed by franchise creator Robert Vince and is set to hit theaters in summer 2026. It will mark the eighth collaboration between Vince and lead animal trainer Mark Forbes.

It’s the first film in the franchise since Air Bud: Spikes Back, which was released in 2003.

Dog owners can submit their purebred golden retrievers through the official Air Bud website, airbud.com/thesearch. Entrants will also be eligible for prizes such as official jerseys, signed movie merchandise or a trip to the Hollywood premiere.

“We need a dog who is a purebred golden retriever, who’s athletic and ideally he would love basketball,” Forbes said in the casting call announcement. 

Air Bud Entertainment also announced it is partnering with Birds & Animals Unlimited, a leading Hollywood animal training company, to fill roles ranging from on-screen appearances to promotional events.