"Golden Retriever Cast as New 'Air Bud' Star: Meet Summer"
A 5-year-old golden retriever from San Diego, California, has been cast as the main canine star in the upcoming 2026 reboot of the beloved family film franchise "Air Bud." The talented pup, named Summer, is set to take on a starring role alongside five other dogs, playing the lead character's loyal companion in a story about teamwork and perseverance.
Summer, whose owners, Kathryn Gard and Tim Bautista, discovered her incredible talent for volleyball at local dog beaches, will be joining an all-star cast of canine athletes in Vancouver, Canada, where principal photography is underway. The film, titled "Air Bud Returns," follows the journey of a 12-year-old boy who forms an unlikely friendship with Summer's father, a retired basketball player.
Summer's impressive skills were first showcased on local beaches, where she effortlessly handled volleyballs and charmed beachgoers with her playful demeanor. Her talent eventually caught the attention of filmmakers, leading to her selection for the lead role in "Air Bud Returns."
"I would say this was a surprise," Gard said about Summer's casting. "It's been a whirlwind for sure." Bautista added that their initial introduction to volleyball was simply a way to spend quality time together at home during the pandemic lockdown, but it quickly became clear that Summer had a gift.
As the filming process continues in Vancouver, Summer will be trained with Charlie, another golden retriever from Ohio, who excels in mid-range shots. The two dogs have formed an instant bond and are being touted as an acting duo perfect for the Cinderella-style story.
When not on set, Summer loves to sleep and enjoys her downtime playing with her co-stars. As filming comes to a close before Thanksgiving, Gard and Bautista plan to host a watch party for their puppy friends and may even organize dog autograph sessions with paw prints.
The family is hopeful that this role won't be the end of Summer's entertainment career, with potential sequels or appearances in local San Diego sports events on the horizon.
A 5-year-old golden retriever from San Diego, California, has been cast as the main canine star in the upcoming 2026 reboot of the beloved family film franchise "Air Bud." The talented pup, named Summer, is set to take on a starring role alongside five other dogs, playing the lead character's loyal companion in a story about teamwork and perseverance.
Summer, whose owners, Kathryn Gard and Tim Bautista, discovered her incredible talent for volleyball at local dog beaches, will be joining an all-star cast of canine athletes in Vancouver, Canada, where principal photography is underway. The film, titled "Air Bud Returns," follows the journey of a 12-year-old boy who forms an unlikely friendship with Summer's father, a retired basketball player.
Summer's impressive skills were first showcased on local beaches, where she effortlessly handled volleyballs and charmed beachgoers with her playful demeanor. Her talent eventually caught the attention of filmmakers, leading to her selection for the lead role in "Air Bud Returns."
"I would say this was a surprise," Gard said about Summer's casting. "It's been a whirlwind for sure." Bautista added that their initial introduction to volleyball was simply a way to spend quality time together at home during the pandemic lockdown, but it quickly became clear that Summer had a gift.
As the filming process continues in Vancouver, Summer will be trained with Charlie, another golden retriever from Ohio, who excels in mid-range shots. The two dogs have formed an instant bond and are being touted as an acting duo perfect for the Cinderella-style story.
When not on set, Summer loves to sleep and enjoys her downtime playing with her co-stars. As filming comes to a close before Thanksgiving, Gard and Bautista plan to host a watch party for their puppy friends and may even organize dog autograph sessions with paw prints.
The family is hopeful that this role won't be the end of Summer's entertainment career, with potential sequels or appearances in local San Diego sports events on the horizon.
OMG, can you believe it?! This little pup Summer is gonna be a STAR 
! I mean, who wouldn't fall in love with her adorable face and volleyball skills? 
The casting decision is literally paw-some 
#GoldenRetrieverGoals #AirBudReturns #SummerTheStar
! Casting her as the new Air Bud star is def a great idea - she's got that adorable face and skills for days 
. Can't wait to see the movie and catch some of her puppy shenanigans on set 
!
she sounds like such a talented pup and her backstory is literally the sweetest 
I mean, who wouldn't fall in love with a golden retriever who's into volleyball? 
it's like she's straight out of a rom-com or something 
the fact that Charlie is another golden retriever from Ohio is just the icing on the cake - those two are going to make an amazing acting duo! 
and the fact that they're forming an acting duo is just so... doggone adorable 
. and i love how the family plans to host a watch party with their puppy friends after filming wraps up - it sounds like such a fun way to celebrate 
. can't wait to see summer in action on the big screen! 
! Casting a pup as the new Air Bud star is literally genius 
and Summer sounds like she's got some serious skills on her paws 
! Her owners are super proud of her skills and it's cute that they stumbled upon volleyball while just chillin' at home during the pandemic 
. A co-star from Ohio, Charlie, sounds like a great partner for Summer - I'm sure their chemistry on screen will be paw-some 
. The fact that filming is happening now (2025) means we'll have to wait until 2026 for "Air Bud Returns" but I guess it's all worth it if the pup gets to shine 
. Maybe Summer can teach humans a thing or two about teamwork and perseverance 
. Anyway, I think it's awesome that they're making a movie about teamwork and perseverance with dogs - it's so heartwarming 
. Can't wait to see the film come together and hopefully Summer gets to do more fun projects in the future 
Still excited for it though!
As a fan of the original films, I'm excited to see this new spin on the classic story and those paw-some canine actors bring it to life. Charlie from Ohio better watch out for Summer's skills though... she's gonna steal the show 
I need to get my hands on that movie ASAP! And omg, an acting duo with Charlie from Ohio? 
it's amazing how passionate they are about her success and I'm sure she'll do great things with "Air Bud Returns"