Baywatch Reboot Lures Back Two More Original Stars

Here we go: Baywatch is making a splash back onto telly, and FOX are clearly banking on nostalgia to float their reboot. If you thought this next round of surf’s-up melodrama would skip on familiar faces, think again. The latest update is they’ve dragged in another two from the original cast – and yes, they're dusting off their red swimsuits for a cameo or two.

Back from the ’90s: Who’s Getting Wet Again?

The fresh news is that Michael Bergin and Kelly Packard – both Baywatch staples, if you can remember the show’s later years – are officially on the call sheet. They’re set to revisit their old roles: Bergin as Jack 'J.D.' Darius and Packard as April Giminski. Variety had the scoop first, and they’re calling them guest stars for now, so don’t expect them hogging every episode. Think more fan-pleasing drop-ins than full-on mainstays.

A quick Baywatch history refresher: Bergin signed up as a series lead from series eight through to the end (series eleven), and then kept the red shorts handy for that rather odd 2003 FOX movie, 'Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding'. Packard, on the other hand, showed up in series eight and nine as a regular – not quite icon status, but enough to get long-time fans pointing at their screens in January.

Who Else Is Getting Sand in Their Shoes?

• David Chokachi is also back as Cody Madison, this time sticking around a bit longer than your bog-standard cameo.
• One for the old-school fans: Erika Eleniak returns, albeit briefly, as Shauni McClain. She’s labelled as a guest, so manage expectations.
• The main cast for this reboot: Jessica Belkin is playing Charlie Vale, Shay Mitchell is Trina, Hassie Harrison is Nat, Thaddeus LaGrone takes on Brad, Noah Beck pops up as Luke, Livvy Dunne is Grace, Nadia Gray plays Lisa, and Mary McDonnell rounds things out as Gayle.

The Blokes Behind the Scenes

The man steering this particular lifeguard tower is Matt Nix, showrunner and executive producer. If you know your US telly, he’s the bloke behind 'Burn Notice'. The old guard aren’t just sitting this one out either: Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto, and Mike Horowitz are also executive producing. If that sounds like too many cooks for the clubhouse, well, that’s probably because it is.

What’s the deal with the plot? The new series is aiming to pick up where the original left off, carrying forward Baywatch’s bizarre blend of workplace melodrama, action, and slow-motion jogging.

New Teaser, Old Characters, Unexpected Twists

A teaser recently made the rounds, dropping the most surprising bit yet: Stephen Amell – yes, the Arrowverse’s very own brooder – is now playing Hobie Buchannon. If you need your memory jogged, Hobie was Mitch Buchannon’s son back in the original, a source of much adolescent angst and trouble. This time, he’s graduated from being the problem child and is now captain of the Baywatch unit.

FOX have pencilled in January 2027 for the reboot’s premiere, so there’s plenty of time for them to add a few more ex-cast members to the roster before those iconic opening titles start rolling again.