One of Hollywood’s fiercest modern debates over Artificial Intelligence has now found an unexpected new player turning heads, Air Bud. As studios continue wrestling with CGI, digital tools, and the future of moviemaking, the beloved canine franchise has bounded back into the spotlight with a bold promise that no CGI was used in the film. And while Air Bud Returns marks the franchise’s 15th chapter since Air Bud: Golden Receiver in 1998, it has already begun making headlines through the director’s striking revelation.

Speaking with Fandango correspondent Nikki Novak during CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas, director Robert Vince welcomed playful comparisons to Tom Cruise for setting Hollywood’s stunt tone. While joking that the golden retriever did not leap from an aeroplane, Vince insisted nearly everything else was real and praised the canine star as a true basketball player. He further stressed that the production used no CGI dog in the movie, preserving the practical spirit of the original and keeping it firmly alive.

“In fact, in the movie there’s no CGI dog used. Just like the original movie,” Vince told Novak.

Originally eyed for 2026, the film was later moved to January 22, 2027, to align with the franchise’s 30th anniversary, marking its first big-screen return since Air Bud: Golden Receiver in 1998. The return follows 12-year-old Jacob as he moves to Fernfield, Washington, with his mother while coping with the loss of his father. There, he discovers a VHS copy of Air Bud before forming an unlikely bond with a stray Golden Retriever named Buddy.

While Air Bud Returns is already stirring attention, Vince has credited the franchise’s comeback to the very generation that grew up with the original films.

Robert Vince believes millennials revived Air Bud

Speaking with Fandango, Vince explained that the children who once watched Air Bud at around 10 years old are now millennials with families of their own, creating the perfect moment to reintroduce the franchise to a new generation. He further stressed that the theatrical return offers a rare multi-generational opportunity, allowing parents who loved the original films to now share that experience with their children.

"Number one is that the people that grew up with Air Bud, they're millennials. The average age was 10 years old and guess what they have now? They have families of their own," Vince told Fandango.

Adding further heart to the comeback vision, Vince revealed that he designed the theatrical return as a rare multi-generational event, allowing those who once grew up with Air Bud to now bring their own children into cinemas for a brand-new chapter. The film is led by Aydin Artis as Jacob, Buddy’s new owner, alongside Tracy Ifeachor as his widowed mother Jasmine, with Edwin Lee Gibson, Tyler Labine, Erik Gow, and Maxim Swinton strengthening the ensemble. Charlie and Summer will share the role of Buddy, the beloved four-legged icon now carrying the franchise into a fresh era.

Amid Hollywood’s raging AI storm, Air Bud Returns is proving that old-school practical magic can still command headlines and stir fresh excitement all on its own.

What are your thoughts on Air Bud Returns promising no CGI in the age of AI? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Lisa Roy

Edited by

Itti Mahajan