Summary
As the ever-cognizant saying goes, everything old is new again. It is with that in mind that a classicDisneyfranchise is returning from the grave, albeit without the House of Mouse involved this time around.
The 1990s were a decade of cultural dominance forDisney. Think of everything that happened involving the Walt Disney Company during that decade. They dominated the box office with animated films likeBeauty and the BeastandThe Lion Kingas well as live-action hits likePretty WomanandArmageddon. Years before buying the company outright, they began their highly fruitful relationship with Pixar in 1995 withToy Story. With Animal Kingdom, they opened a fourth theme park in Orlando, Florida. In one of the largest corporate takeovers in United States history, they gained control of ABC and its family of networks. Not content with theme park destinations as their sole vacation business, they kick-started the Disney Cruise Line with two ships: theDisney Magicand theDisney Wonder. Suffice it to say, the 1990s were a massive decade for the Walt Disney Company. Now, one of their staple franchises is making a resurgence without their involvement at all.
Variety is reporting thatAir Bud,of all franchises, is getting a big-screen return set for Summer 2026. Although most rememberAir Budas a Disney series of films and direct-to-video movies,Disneywas merely involved in distribution, as Air Bud Entertainment is the owner of the franchise’s rights. Now the new film,Air Bud Returns, has a new distributor in Cineverse, an entertainment company mostly known for free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels like Midnight Pulp and Screambox. Air Bud Entertainment founder Robert Vince is writing and directingAir Bud Returns.
TheAir BudFranchise Is Getting New Life WithAir Bud Returns
Disney Isn’t Involved This Time Around
WhenAir Budwas released in 1997, not many were expecting much from the sports comedy flick. After all, it was budgeted at around $3 million and centered around a golden retriever who was almost magically good at basketball. Nonetheless,Walt Disney Picturespicked up the distribution rights to the film with initial plans to release the movie via the Miramax Films label. Someone realized that was a horrible idea, and it was released in August 1997 to middling reviews. However, the film grossed nearly $30 million on that skimpy $3 million budget and brought in who knows how much more on VHS. It was off to the races for theAir Budfranchise.
‘Air Bud Returns’ isn’t just another sequel or remake — it’s a unique story. This movie will engage nostalgic ‘Air Bud’ fans while introducing a new generation to the beloved basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy. - Robert Vince
From August 1997 to August 2013, there were a staggering fourteen films in theAir Budfranchise and its spinoff, theAir Buddiesseries. While theAir Budseries focused on the titular dog playing all kinds of sports, from basketball and volleyball to baseball and soccer, theAir Buddiesseries was far more whimsical. For example, 2012’sTreasure Buddiesis anIndiana Jonesripoff that features none other thanSuperman’sSkyler Gisondo himselfas B-Dawg the puppy (yeah, they talked).
WithAir Bud Returnsset to feature a more grounded take on the franchise, a la the early films, it seems unlikely that Buddy will be voiced this time around. The real question: willAir Bud Returnsbe as lackluster as some ofDisney’s much-maligned live-action remakes?
