Baywatch Legend Is Back: Fox Reboot Makes a Splash With a Fan Favorite

Here we go again: another classic series is rising from the 90s graveyard, and this time it’s Baywatch making a run for a modern comeback on Fox. The bit of news turning heads? One of the OG lifeguards is putting the iconic red swimsuit back in storage (for now) and going full suit-and-tie. Let’s break down what’s actually happening with this reboot—and yes, it directly connects to the super-early days of the franchise.

Shauni’s Back, But She’s Levelled Up

Erika Eleniak, whose character Shauni McClain made bay-side drama a staple in the show’s first few seasons, is officially returning for the new Baywatch. She left the series years ago and seemed pretty done with all things lifeguard, so her comeback is a legit surprise.

Now, Shauni is showing up not as a lifeguard, but as a city councilwoman from Santa Monica. If, like me, you didn’t have “Baywatch meets local government” on your TV bingo card, join the club. Her character pops up to help launch the annual Beach Games—basically, she's mentoring a new generation (or let’s be honest, giving the show’s nostalgia meters a spike).

Who’s Who in This Sunburnt Revival

If you thought this reboot was just Erika Eleniak’s solo show, think again. Here’s the key cast they’ve assembled so far:

• Stephen Amell steps into the sun-bleached sandals as Hobie Buchannon (David Hasselhoff’s on-screen son, all grown up)
• David Chokachi, another familiar face, returns as the ever-sweaty Cody Madison
• Jessica Belkin as Charlie, Shay Mitchell as Trina, Hassie Harrison as Nat, Thaddeus LaGrone as Brad, Brooks Nader as Selene, Noah Beck as Luke, and a handful of others fighting for screen time and SPF

Behind the Curtains (and Sunglasses)

The creative team is a who’s who of both action TV and the Baywatch past. Matt Nix (the guy behind Burn Notice) is running showrunner and executive producer duties. McG is also producing—and directing the first episode, so expect plenty of kinetic slow-mo. And yes, Baywatch creators Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, and Doug Schwartz are also back. Fan service? You bet.

Fox and Fremantle are handling production, and the state of California tossed them a little filming incentive to keep everything planted firmly in LA. Fun fact: earlier this year Fox went for an old-school casting call, just hoping to find the new faces that might actually survive a wetsuit montage these days.

Just How Big Was Baywatch, Anyway?

For anyone who only knows Baywatch from endless syndication jokes: this thing was massive. The original show launched in 1989 and, at its (very tan) peak, was getting watched by more than a billion people worldwide every single week. It managed to run in over 200 countries. For a while, every actor in that show went on to be almost comically famous—think David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Jason Momoa (pre-Khal Drogo), and Yasmine Bleeth.

When & Where to Watch

Baywatch 2.0 will hit Fox during the 2026-2027 TV season. So for now, you’ve got time to practice your beach jog or just scowl at the waves like a melodramatic post-credits scene.

'I’m excited to revisit a character who meant a lot to me and connect Baywatch’s first era to its new version,' Eleniak said, basically confirming the nostalgia extravaganza.

So, whether you loved the original, live for TV reboots, or just want to see if neon swim trunks still look good in 4K, keep an eye out for Baywatch when it finally washes up on Fox.