Nearly three decades after it last graced television screens, Baywatch is returning — and this time it arrives with a 4K sheen, a TikTok-native cast and a 12-episode order from Fox for the 2026-2027 season. First-look images have begun circulating online, offering a glimpse of what the reboot intends to be: nostalgic enough to satisfy fans of the original, contemporary enough to attract a generation that was not yet born when the show went off air.
The original series, which ran from 1989 to 2001, became one of the most widely watched television programmes in history, exporting American beach culture to living rooms across the world and turning its cast into household names. The new version faces the considerable challenge of honouring that legacy without being swallowed by it.
The new lifeguard lineup
Arrow star Stephen Amell leads the cast as Hobie Buchannon, the now-adult son of David Hasselhoff’s iconic Mitch Buchannon — a casting choice that ties the reboot directly to the original’s mythology while giving it space to forge its own identity. The show also introduces a familial twist with Jessica Belkin playing Hobie’s previously unknown daughter, adding a layer of personal drama to the mix.
Gymnast and social media personality Livvy Dunne makes her acting debut as a rookie lifeguard, while Brooks Nader takes on the role of the no-nonsense captain of Zuma Beach. Shay Mitchell, Hassie Harrison and TikTok star Noah Beck round out a cast that has been carefully assembled to appeal across age groups.
In a satisfying nod to the original, David Chokachi — who played Cody Madison in the 90s series — returns, this time running a beachfront bar rather than patrolling the shoreline.
A modern production with familiar energy
Developed by Matt Nix and directed by McG, the reboot promises more grounded, character-driven storytelling alongside its action sequences. The aesthetic has been updated throughout — custom Toyota Tacomas have replaced the old yellow lifeguard trucks, and the production has been filmed across Malibu and Venice Beach with a deliberately contemporary look.
Whether the show can recapture the cultural footprint of its predecessor is the question Fox will be hoping the audience answers for them when the series premieres.
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Featured Image: Instagram | Shaymitchell
