Maverick, a golden retriever from Charlotte, has dribbled his way into Hollywood. He's one of just 30 dogs chosen from more than 4,000 submissions to audition for the 2026 movie "Airbud Returns."
Why it matters: The film is a spinoff of the 1997 family classic "Air Bud," where a talented golden retriever plays basketball for his owner's school team.
Driving the news: Maverick's owner, Jackie Mawra, submitted an audition video "just for fun" after friends encouraged her.
The pup — who has obedience training but no basketball lessons — picked up the sport instantly for his video.
Maverick is no stranger to the spotlight: His TikTok account has 22,000 followers and more than 30 million views.
What's next: Mawra says producers should announce by the end of the week if Maverick has officially landed the role. If he makes the cut, he'll spend 10–11 weeks in Canada filming.
