Fox’s upcoming ‘Baywatch‘ reboot has found its first lifeguard, with Stephen Amell (Arrow, Heels) set to star as Hobie Buchannon in the straight-to-series revival from showrunner Matt Nix.
Amell will play Hobie, once the wild child son of Mitch Buchannon, now stepping into his own role as a Baywatch Captain. In a generational twist, Hobie’s world is shaken when Charlie, the daughter he never knew existed, turns up eager to follow in the family footsteps and join Baywatch alongside her father. Expect legacy drama, family tension, and plenty of sand between the toes.
“From the first conversation, Stephen Amell brought exactly what this new chapter of Baywatch demands: heart, intensity, and that undeniable hero energy. He’s the kind of lead who can sprint into danger, carry the emotional weight, and still make it feel fun. We’re so excited to get started,” said Nix.
Hobie was originally played by Brandon Call for one season of the original series before Jeremy Jackson took over for the remainder of its run. Mitch, of course, was portrayed by David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider), becoming one of television’s most recognisable beachside heroes.
Fox’s new take promises adrenaline-fuelled rescues, tangled relationships and beachside heroics, updated for a contemporary audience with a fresh cast stepping into those iconic red swimsuits. The reboot received a 12-episode straight-to-series order in September 2025 and is set to begin production this spring on Venice Beach and at the Fox Studio Lot in Century City.
The original series debuted in 1989, was swiftly cancelled by NBC after one season, then became a global juggernaut in syndication, airing in over 200 countries and reportedly reaching more than a billion viewers at its peak. It helped launch the careers of Pamela Anderson (Home Improvement), Carmen Electra (Singled Out), Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) and Yasmine Bleeth (Nash Bridges), cementing its place in pop culture history.
Behind the camera, the new series is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle. Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside executive producers McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz. McG will direct the premiere episode.
On the UK side of things, there’s no confirmed broadcaster yet. Fox doesn’t have a direct outlet here, so the rights could realistically wash up anywhere. Sky would seem a strong contender given their history of picking up big US dramas, but ITV could also be in the mix, particularly as they aired the original series back in the 90s. For now, we’ll have to wait and see where this one lands on UK shores.
‘Baywatch’ does not yet have a premiere date, but will air on Fox in the US. It currently has no UK broadcaster. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
5 comments
Matt Nix, McG and the rest? I’m in! This should be good.
The original was in syndication from season two on. So the producers could do what they wanted with no network censors clamping down. This is on a network. So will be interesting to see what the tone is like. I hope it has stories of the week as the original did too, because it’s not a format that would support one long story arc. Given that Hobie and Summer were a couple in the reunion movie, will she be Summer’s daughter? Can’t wait to find out.
Fremantle is a British based company so pretty sure it will sold to a UK broadcaster if its renewed, I’d guess is Sky the most likely (Sky Witness or Sky One)
Yeah, also, I mean… its Baywatch… I’m sure it’ll get a home here, just no idea where yet.
Fremantle is British based company,
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