Fox is bringing its highly anticipated reboot of the classic beach rescue franchise to the screen this winter, scheduling the series premiere for Jan. 6 at 9 p.m.
The continuation of the iconic 1990s television sensation places actor Stephen Amell in the role of a grown-up Hobie Buchannon. In the new narrative, Hobie has advanced to become a Baywatch Captain, stepping into the professional footsteps of his father, Mitch. His structured life is abruptly disrupted by the unexpected arrival of Charlie, played by Jessica Belkin, who turns out to be the daughter he never knew he had. Eager to forge her own path in the family tradition, Charlie sets out to earn a spot as a Baywatch lifeguard working directly alongside her father.
Amell and Belkin are joined by a large ensemble cast that includes Shay Mitchell, Brooks Nader, Hassie Harrison, Livvy Dunne, Noah Beck, David Chokachi, and Thaddeus LaGrone. Additional recurring roles feature Ashley Moore, Luke Eisner, Nadia Gray, Kylar Miranda, and Charlie McElveen, while hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion is also slated to make an appearance during the run.
Development on the project moved forward when Fox picked up the reboot for the 2026-2027 broadcast season back in September 2025, backing the venture with a 12-episode order. Following the network pickup, the production held an open casting call in early 2026 before cameras officially began rolling in Los Angeles during the spring.
The upcoming show builds upon the legacy of the original franchise, which premiered in 1989 and eventually grew into a global television phenomenon broadcast in more than 200 countries at its peak. The foundational series featured David Hasselhoff as head lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and propelled performers such as Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra to international stardom. That initial success previously generated a spinoff titled “Baywatch Nights” as well as a feature film adaptation in 2017 starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.
Behind the scenes, the series is guided by showrunner and executive producer Matt Nix. Additional executive producers include McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto, and Mike Horowitz. McG also took the director’s chair for the premiere episode. The project is a co-production between Fox Entertainment and Fremantle.
