The action-drama series, known for red swimsuits and slow-motion beach runs, is returning to small screens! First premiering in 1989, Baywatch became the most-watched TV show in the world by 1996, launching the careers of Pamela Anderson, David Hasselhoff, and the rest of the cast. While Fox begins its search for highly marketable young heartthrobs to join the cast, let’s review what we know so far.
‘Baywatch’ reboot: Where to watch, showrunners, and potential cast
Coproducers Fox Entertainment and Fremantle didn’t hesitate to greenlight a Baywatch reboot after acquiring original creators Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, and Doug Schwartz as executive producers. Matt Nix, known for Burn Notice, The Good Guys, and The Gifted, will serve as showrunner and executive producer.
The show will feature an all-new cast, but we hope to see several cameos and special participation from current stars and the original cast. Currently, the Baywatch reboot will go straight-to-series for 12 episodes, due to air on Fox for the 2026-2027 season.
Fans expect to see the iconic red swimsuit, slow-motion beach runs, beachside rescues, and high-stakes lifeguard action and romance that the original Baywatch delivered. They’ll also likely see a sexy new cast around the same ages as the earlier show, roughly aged 22-30 (although Nicole Eggert was 19 years old when she joined the cast in 1992 as Summer Quinn.
Who will join the ‘Baywatch’ reboot cast?
Showrunners will likely seek actors who already resonate with young, global audiences. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Baywatch reboot’s cast includes stars who are highly marketable on social media while exuding sex appeal, glossy aesthetics, and even beach culture. A thoughtful mix of body types, personalities, and vibes could help the reboot feel more diverse and modern, not just a carbon copy of the ’90s cast. Here’s who we’d like to see considered for the Baywatch reboot cast:
Baywatch reboot potential actresses:
Camila Mendes, 31: a sultry screen presence and appeal from her starring role on Riverdale
Sydney Sweeney, 28: the modern Hollywood bombshell likely has an extremely busy schedule as she pursues big-screen roles
Madelyn Cline, 27: An Outer Banks actress known for her beachy glamour
Ryan Destiny, 29: glamorous, confident, and musically inclined, the Grown-ish star could be a natural fit for a stylish, high-profile role.
Skai Jackson, 23: A former Disney star turned influencer with a big social reach
Baywatch reboot potential actors:
Jacob Elordi, 28: Fans cemented him as a sex symbol after his roles in Saltburn and Euphoria.
Shameik Moore, 30: The stylish Dope star has both mainstream and niche appeal.
Noah Centineo, 29: the teen-romance heartthrob starred in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Charles Melton, 33: Although a bit older, the buzzy actor rose to fame in projects like May December
Gavin Casalegno, 26: The Summer I Turned Pretty star is a rising young heartthrob.
Joshua Bassett, 24: Another actor-singer with Disney roots and small-screen charm
What would make the ‘Baywatch’ reboot a success?
As showrunners hope to modernize the iconic action-drama, they’ll have to avoid many pitfalls that could hurt the Baywatch reboot. First, we hope to see meaningful casting from a broader range of backgrounds and underrepresented communities. The beach culture should be inclusive and reflect modern Southern California. Viewers will likely want to see more complexity from characters as the campy melodrama of the original Baywatch won’t likely perform as well today.
We also hope to see more realistic rescue scenarios involving modern lifeguarding gear, water safety education, and technology upgrades. The beach heroics could feel more relevant if the showrunners address these areas as well as current environmental concerns affecting the coastal United States. Fox should refrain from cutting corners. Water filming is expensive and complicated; viewers will catch on if these scenes look bad or are done cheaply.
Of course, fans of ’90s Baywatch will want to see cameos or small roles from the original cast, connecting the old with the new. (Carmen Electra has already revealed that she’s “talking to” the showrunners about a potential casting, as TMZ reports.) The new show will have to avoid objectifying the cast but retain the beloved tropes like the red swimsuits or beach runs. They’ll need to objectify less while retaining sex appeal, remaining fun, and not too serious.
For her part, Electra is ready to bring back the red swimsuits. “I still look really good in that suit, so that is not a problem,” she stated.