The First Full ‘Baywatch’ Trailer Is Here: Plane Crashes, Wildfires and Plenty of Slow-Motion Running
Some television images never go out of style, and a lifeguard sprinting down the beach in slow motion is near the top of the list. ‘Baywatch‘ built an entire pop culture identity around that sight, and now Fox is betting that audiences are ready for it again. The network has just released the first full trailer for its reboot, and it is leaning into the nostalgia.
The new ‘Baywatch’ is technically a sequel series, a direct continuation of the original rather than a reboot from scratch. Stephen Amell stars as Hobie Buchannon, the now-grown son of legendary captain Mitch Buchannon, and he is now a Baywatch captain himself. The series arrives on Fox in January, with episodes available to watch on Hulu the day after they air.
Released on October 13, the roughly 3-minute trailer shows what the show plans to deliver beyond sun-soaked beach scenes. According to early coverage, it features a small plane crash, a wildfire in the hills near the beach, an exploding lifeguard tower and a healthy dose of interpersonal drama among the team. It also sets those moments to the original series’ theme song, “I’m Always Here.”
First trailer for the ‘BAYWATCH’ reboot, starring Stephen Amell, Noah Beck and Livvy Dunne. Releasing in January on FOX. https://t.co/WEwseoLE7c
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 13, 2026
Amell, best known for ‘Arrow’, leads the ensemble as Hobie, a role previously played by Brandon Call and later Jeremy Jackson. He is joined by Jessica Belkin as Hobie’s daughter, Charlie Vale, who arrives on his doorstep eager to carry on the Buchannon legacy. Hassie Harrison plays Nat, Shay Mitchell plays Trina, Thaddeus LaGrone plays Brad, Noah Beck plays rookie lifeguard Luke and Brooks Nader plays Selene.
Livvy Dunne, the former LSU gymnast and influencer, makes her acting debut in a recurring role as Grace, a highly enthusiastic junior lifeguard. Mitchell’s Trina is a former lawyer who walked away from a top-tier firm to lifeguard full time. The mix of established actors, newcomers and social media stars reflects the broad, glossy appeal the franchise has always had.
Fans of the original will spot a familiar name. David Chokachi returns in a recurring role as Cody Madison, who now manages The Shoreline, the unofficially official Baywatch bar and grill. He also serves as a mentor to the current lifeguard team and will wear the iconic red trunks for certain rescues.
That kind of callback is central to the show’s strategy. Rather than reinventing the formula, it embraces the original’s spirit, with the trailer even noting that ‘Baywatch’ was once the most popular show in the world. It is a confident, slightly cheeky way to remind viewers why the franchise became a phenomenon.
The original premiered on NBC in 1989 and was canceled after a single season. It was revived the following fall in first-run syndication and went on to run for 11 seasons through 2001. At its peak, it aired in more than 200 countries and reached more than a billion viewers weekly, helping drive tourism to Southern California and define beach culture for generations.
A 2017 feature film starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron also tried to revive the brand, though this series is a more direct continuation of the television show. That distinction may matter for fans who want the characters and tone they remember rather than a comedic spin.
Fox Entertainment and Fremantle are co-producing the series, with Matt Nix, the creator of ‘Burn Notice’, serving as showrunner and executive producer. McG, who directed the premiere episode, is an executive producer alongside Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz. The first season is set to run for 12 episodes.
The series has already been a major talking point at the MIPCOM market in Cannes, where Amell and Nader have been promoting it. Nix, Amell and Beck have also stressed that the show reminds Hollywood of the advantages of shooting in Los Angeles. It has already sold to broadcasters including Italy’s Rai.
Winter is an unusual time for a beach show, but that may be part of the appeal. Viewers in cold climates are likely to welcome sunshine, and the trailer’s mix of spectacle and soapy drama suggests a series designed for broad, easy viewing. It also aims to keep the franchise’s trademark slow-motion running firmly intact.
Whether the reboot can match the cultural footprint of the original is an open question. But with a polished trailer, a familiar theme song and a cast built for big rescues, Fox seems confident that audiences are ready to dive back in.
What do you think of the new 'Baywatch' series?
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