‘Baywatch’ Reboot Gets Its Premiere Date and a New Beach Photo as Fox Bets on Stephen Amell and a Cast of Social Media Stars

Few TV images are as instantly recognizable as a row of lifeguards in red swimwear sprinting down a sunlit beach. ‘Baywatch‘ turned slow-motion running into a pop culture signature and became a global phenomenon in the process. Decades later, the franchise is heading back to the sand.

The original series aired for 11 seasons starting in 1989, and its final two seasons were rechristened ‘Baywatch: Hawaii’ when the show left California. It spawned a spinoff, ‘Baywatch Nights,’ and Fox broadcast a reunion TV movie in 2023. That long legacy is exactly what the new series is hoping to tap.

Now Fox has unveiled a new group photo of the reboot’s cast, and the network has set the premiere date. ‘Baywatch’ arrives on Wednesday, January 6 at 9 p.m. on Fox, starring Stephen Amell, Livvy Dunne and Noah Beck.

New look at the ‘BAYWATCH’ reboot, starring Stephen Amell, Livvy Dunne and Noah Beck. Releasing January 6 on FOX. https://t.co/d0lufun5KO

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 26, 2026

The photo shows the team posing arm in arm on the shoreline in their signature red swimwear, with the ocean and blue sky behind them. It’s a deliberate echo of the original show’s iconic imagery, updated for a new generation. Episodes will also arrive on Hulu the next day.

Fox picked up the series in 2025 with a straight-to-series order of 12 episodes. The premiere was later pushed from fall 2026 to January, and production began in Los Angeles in the spring. Fox says fans can expect the adrenaline-fueled rescues, tangled relationships and beachside heroics that defined the original, now with a new cast and a renewed mission to save lives along Los Angeles’ beaches.

Amell, best known for ‘Arrow,’ plays Hobie Buchannon, now a Baywatch captain following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch, who was played by David Hasselhoff in the original. The character was previously played by Jeremy Jackson. In the reboot, Hobie is a wild-child legacy figure whose world is turned upside down when his daughter, Charlie Vale, arrives.

Jessica Belkin plays Charlie, a daughter he never knew, who is eager to carry on the family legacy and become a lifeguard alongside him. That family story gives the series an emotional core beyond the rescues.

The team around Hobie includes Hassie Harrison (‘Yellowstone’) as Nat, Shay Mitchell (‘Pretty Little Liars’) as Trina, newcomer Thaddeus LaGrone as Brad and Brooks Nader as Selene. Beck, a TikTok star who also appeared in ‘Sidelined,’ plays rookie lifeguard Luke.

Dunne, a former LSU gymnast, model and influencer, makes her professional acting debut in a recurring role as Grace, a highly enthusiastic junior lifeguard. In the trailer, she also appears alongside Megan Thee Stallion, who plays a beach bystander begging to be saved by the lifeguards.

The reboot also carries some links to the past. David Chokachi reprises his original role as Cody Madison, and Mary McDonnell plays Hobie’s mother, Gayle, a role originally played by Wendie Malick. Those connections give the series a continuation feel rather than a straight remake.

Behind the camera, Matt Nix, known for ‘Burn Notice’ and ‘The Gifted,’ serves as showrunner and executive producer. McG directed the premiere, and Fox Entertainment and Fremantle co-produce.

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

The revival has been years in the making. Fremantle began toying with the idea as early as 2018, and Fox came on board in 2024 with a script plus penalty commitment. Fox held an open casting call in January, and Amell was cast in February.

The trailer promises big action, including a dramatic plane crash and its aftermath, along with romance and plenty of running. Stars and the showrunner have also said that the show reminds Hollywood of the advantages of shooting in Los Angeles.

Reboots often live or die on whether they can balance nostalgia with something new. ‘Baywatch’ is leaning into both, mixing legacy characters with a cast of social media personalities and a story about family. Whether viewers embrace that formula will become clear in January.

For now, the new photo and release date give fans something to look forward to in the cold winter months. The lifeguards are on their way, and the slow-motion running is guaranteed.

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