The beloved golden retriever is back! We sat down with director Robert Vince to discuss the heart, humor, and surprises of Air Bud Returns.
Get ready to head back to Fernfield, where the impossible becomes reality once again. Air Bud Returns marks the highly anticipated theatrical relaunch of one of the most iconic family franchises in cinematic history.
Opening in theaters nationwide on January 22, 2027, this new chapter brings the beloved golden retriever back to the big screen, continuing the legacy that has delighted audiences for over 28 years. With a focus on blending heartfelt storytelling with the humor that defined the original, Air Bud Returns is designed to unite audiences across generations, proving once and for all that there “still…ain’t no rule that says a dog can’t play basketball”.
Mama’s Geeky had the pleasure of sitting down with the creative force behind the film, director and writer Robert Vince, at CinemaCon 2026 to talk about how he balanced the beloved nostalgia of the original with a fresh, sophisticated approach for today’s families. From the challenges of working with animal stars to the return of a certain terrifying clown, Vince pulls back the curtain on the making of this family-friendly event.
Robert Vince On Air Bud Returns
Mama’s Geeky: I want to talk to you about including the legacy of Air Bud in this new film.
Robert Vince: What we wanted this movie to be is a re-imagining of Air Bud—something new, something fresh. But we also wanted to build upon the DNA. There’s so much positive DNA with Air Bud. There are words that you will remember: “Ain’t no rule says a dog can’t play basketball.” There’s “play from the heart.” There’s “anything at Fernfield where anything is possible.” So those are all very key, but I think we had some more to tell. This movie has a – wrong word is sophistication, but I think it has a little more – it has a little more sophistication than the original movie just because of what the story is about. But at the same time, I wanted to honor the original Air Bud as well. But we had to bring back that clown just to scare the crap out of every kid. I hate clowns.
Mama’s Geeky: I also want to talk to you about working with animals because you obviously do that a lot. What is your favorite thing about that? What brings you the most joy about that?
Robert Vince: You know, it’s the same reason I like working with kids. There’s an authenticity to what they do, and there’s a surprise every day to me. And so now you put kids and dogs together – it’s like, “Okay, I planned to do this, but this is what’s showing up.” And that’s what makes a really interesting movie. You have to be so flexible as a director. Obviously, I have the best trainers in the world – birds and animals are amazing – but at the same time, you have to be flexible. You can’t be like, “I envisioned that scene exactly like that, and it’s the way it’s gonna be.” To me, it’s my career, and I love it. It’s the only reason I keep doing it. I love making family movies.
For more on Air Bud Returns, watch the full interview.
About Air Bud Returns
Air Bud Entertainment has spent over 28 years creating heartwarming live-action family films that delight audiences around the globe and a true embodiment of our ethos: ‘We Speak Family.’” As the creator of Air Bud, one of the most well-known family franchises in cinematic history, the company has built a legacy of nostalgia, unique storytelling, and positive messages that continue to resonate across multigenerational audiences.
ABE has created over 23 movies and 4 series for major studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and Netflix over nearly three decades. Iconic franchises include Air Bud, Air Buddies, Santa Paws, Pup Star, and Pup Academy. AIR BUD RETURNS represents a theatrical relaunch of the beloved character Air Bud, bringing audiences back home to Fernfield, “where anything is possible when you play from the heart.”
Air Bud Returns comes to theaters on Friday, January 22, 2027.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.