‘Baywatch’ Stars Stephen Amell and Brooks Nader Say the Reboot Arrives at the Right Time, as Fox Sets a January Premiere
Few television brands are as instantly recognizable as ‘Baywatch‘. The red swimsuits, the slow-motion beach runs and the endless rescue montages became pop-culture shorthand around the world. According to Deadline, the original series premiered in 1989, was broadcast in more than 200 countries and reached more than a billion viewers weekly, making it the most-watched show in the world.
That reach is exactly what Fox and Fremantle are betting on with the reboot. The new series is a 12-episode order that Fox greenlit in September 2025, following years of development. Fremantle began toying with the idea as early as 2018, and Fox came aboard with a script plus penalty commitment in 2024.
At MIPCOM in Cannes, the biggest international TV market, stars Stephen Amell and Brooks Nader were on hand to promote the show. Speaking to Deadline, Nader said she believes America could really use a show like this right now, given everything going on. Both stars pitched the series as the right moment for the beloved property to return.
‘Baywatch’ stars Stephen Amell and Brooks Nader on why this is the perfect time for a reboot of the beloved IP. “America could really use this right now with everything going on,” Nader told Deadline at MIPCOM. https://t.co/jArP0eiKrg
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) October 28, 2026
The timing has become clearer. Fox has set the premiere for Wednesday, January 6, at 9 p.m., after the series was originally expected to arrive in fall 2026 before moving to midseason. Episodes are expected to stream on Hulu the day after they air.
The January slot gives the show a prime midseason launch. It also comes just over 25 years after the original ended its run in 2001, after 11 seasons. That anniversary adds to the nostalgia.
Amell, known for ‘Arrow’, plays Hobie Buchannon, the wild-child son of David Hasselhoff’s Mitch Buchannon, who is now a Baywatch Captain. His world is turned upside down when his daughter, Charlie Vale (Jessica Belkin), shows up on his doorstep eager to carry on the family legacy. The official logline promises high-stakes rescues that collide with attraction, friendship, family and responsibility.
The team also includes Shay Mitchell as Trina, Hassie Harrison as Nat, Thaddeus LaGrone as Brad and Noah Beck as Luke. Nader plays Selene, the sharp-tongued Captain of the Zuma Beach lifeguards, who has tension with Amell’s Hobie. Nader is a model and television personality known for ‘Love Thy Nader’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’, and she wore the classic Baywatch one-piece on the cover of the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
Several names from the original are coming back. David Chokachi, Erika Eleniak, Michael Bergin and Kelly Packard will reprise their roles as guest stars in the first season. Mary McDonnell and Livvy Dunne are among the recurring guest stars.
Behind the camera, Matt Nix, known for ‘Burn Notice’ and ‘The Gifted’, serves as showrunner and executive producer. McG directed the series premiere, and original co-creator Greg Bonann is also involved. Fox Entertainment Studios 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
International interest has been strong. Italy’s Rai bought the series for Rai 2 after a first window deal with Prime Video Italy, Sky acquired it for the UK and Ireland, and Stan will carry it in Australia. Fremantle handles international sales, while Fox holds domestic distribution rights.
Fremantle’s executives said landing a major second-window deal before the show even launches highlights the strength of the brand. For a distributor, a recognizable title is a valuable asset in a market crowded with new series. The MIPCOM photocall, where Nader’s red look was dubbed Baywatch red, helped keep the show in the conversation.
The comments from Amell and Nader reflect a broader appeal for escapist television. A sunny drama about heroic lifeguards is a contrast to heavier fare, and it offers the kind of shared viewing that networks have struggled to find. The new version promises the adrenaline-fueled rescues, tangled relationships and beachside heroics that defined the original, now with a new cast and contemporary tensions.
Whether that formula can work in a fragmented streaming era is the question. The cast mixes seasoned actors with social media stars, which could help it reach younger viewers. Fans of the original will be watching to see how well the new series balances nostalgia with new stories.
With a premiere date set and a global rollout under way, the reboot is poised for a big splash. January will show whether audiences agree with its stars that the moment is right.
What are you most excited to see in the Baywatch reboot?
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