A new trailer for “Air Bud Returns” introduces the basketball-playing Golden Retriever returning to movie theaters in a legacy sequel. The film follows an older “Air Bud” story premise in which a boy discovers his dad’s old Air Bud VHS tape and later befriends a stray Golden Retriever in a new town. Together, they pursue basketball goals, form an underdog group, and work toward the boy’s dream of becoming a basketball star. ComingSoon.net describes the dog suiting up again to play a new game featuring misfit teammates, while FirstShowing.net says the concept also draws on the franchise’s history by tying the plot to the original movie tape. The project is described as part of the “Air Bud” brand’s expansion, now positioned as a reboot/legacy installment for the franchise’s 30th anniversary. FirstShowing.net reports the film is directed by Robert Vince and stars Aydin Artis, Tracy Ifeachor, Edwin Lee Gibson, Tyler Labine, Erik Gow, and Maxim Swinton, with two Golden retrievers cast for the dog role. According to FirstShowing.net, the release is planned for January 2027 after a delay from an earlier timeline.