Fox‘s long-gestating Baywatch reboot has landed a 12-episode straight-to-series order from the broadcast network for a premiere during the 2026-27 season. The new iteration of the lifeguard action drama comes from Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, Fremantle and Fox Entertainment.
Baywatch, which had been in development at Fox since winter 2024, kicked into higher gear in early 2025 when Nix, who has a direct deal with Fox Entertainment, was brought in as new writer. His script ultimately landed the green light, with Nix as executive producer and showrunner.
It took months for the series pickup to close — Fremantle’s Bob McCourt told Deadline back in June that the company was “in advanced talks with Fox” — as the network also had been exploring filming locations.
The original series was set and shot on the beaches of Los Angeles County for the first nine seasons before relocating to Hawaii for the last two. I hear L.A. is under consideration for the reboot alongside Australia, with landing a tax credit likely key to keeping the show in California.
The setting will remain Southern California regardless. Per the official description, Baywatch will feature adrenaline-fueled rescues, tangled relationships, complicated chemistry and beachside heroics that defined the original — now with an entirely new cast donning the show’s signature red swimsuits, contemporary trappings, tensions and challenges, and a renewed mission to protect Southern California’s shoreline.
The reboot is executive produced by Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Dante Di Loreto, Doug Schwartz and Nix. It keeps Fox in the lifeguard drama arena following the May cancellation of Rescue HI-Surf after one season.
“In its first run, Baywatch defined an entire era of beach life and elevated lifeguards to an iconic status. Now, with our partners at Fremantle, this television juggernaut is set for a modern-day comeback,” said Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network. “Together, Fox and Fremantle, along with Matt Nix and original co-creator Greg Bonann, will bring the California dream to a whole new generation of fans with fresh stories, rising stars and all the spectacle that make the Baywatch franchise a global sensation.”
Following its 1989 debut and a swift cancellation by NBC after one season, Baywatch became a syndicated global juggernaut, airing in over 200 countries, and at its peak, reaching more than a billion viewers every week. The original series starred David Hasselhoff and helped launch the careers of Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Jason Momoa and Yasmine Bleeth.
“Baywatch has always been a treasured asset in Fremantle’s portfolio and remains one of the most iconic series in television history globally. We have found the perfect partners in Fox to help us maintain this legacy. With Matt Nix at the helm, we are in great hands, as he excels at telling engaging and entertaining stories,” said Christian Vesper, CEO Global Drama, Fremantle. “Our goal is to reconnect with existing fans while also introducing a new generation to the world of these famous lifeguards.”