"Summer, a 5-year-old golden retriever from University City, who became known for her volleyball-handling skills at dog beaches in Ocean Beach and Del Mar, has been cast in the 2026 reboot of the Air Bud movie franchise. Summer is one of six dogs playing the main character in Air Bud Returns, the latest installment in the franchise that is set to be released in either the summer or fall of next year."
"The new movie will follow the story of a 12-year-old boy who dreams of being a professional basketball player, producers said. After finding his dad's old Air Bud movie VHS tapes, and having a chance encounter with a stray golden retriever, the boy and his new dog team up in search of a basketball championship. Summer's owners, Kathryn Gard and Tim Bautista, said Summer was cast alongside another golden retriever to perform athletic feats in the movie because of her nose-eye coordination with a volleyball."
"I would say this was a surprise, Gard said. It's been a whirlwind for sure. Summer's trip to stardom was not the walk most traveled. After Bautista decided to take a hiatus from playing competitive beach volleyball, he saw the potential in making the puppy they had brought home during the pandemic lockdown his new volleying partner. It was 2020, COVID time, said Gard."
Summer is a 5-year-old golden retriever from University City known for volleyball-handling skills at Ocean Beach and Del Mar. Summer was cast as one of six dogs playing the main character in the 2026 Air Bud reboot, Air Bud Returns, scheduled for summer or fall release. The film follows a 12-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player and teams up with a stray golden retriever after finding his father's old Air Bud VHS tapes. Owners Kathryn Gard and Tim Bautista trained Summer during the 2020 pandemic, developing her nose-eye coordination and volleyball skills that led to casting.
Read at www.sandiegouniontribune.com
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