“Baywatch”
“Action-packed” reboot of the cult series is coming
Who will inherit David Hasselhoff and Co. on “Baywatch”?
© imago/Everett Collection
With producers of the original and the showrunner of a “Beverly Hills, 90210” spin-off: Fox secures “Baywatch” remake.
The new edition of “Baywatch” is taking shape. According to US media reports, Fox has secured the rights to the reboot of the 90s cult series. An update of “Baywatch” had been discussed for a long time, but after the lukewarm theatrical version with Dwayne Johnson (51) from 2017, the idea fizzled out. It took until spring 2023 that “Deadline” reported completion. The magazine reported that a series reboot was on the way and a partner was being sought for the broadcast. So now Fox has struck.
The premise of the new series sounds like that of the original with David Hasselhoff (71) and Pamela Anderson (56). “Daring sea rescues, pristine beaches and the iconic red swimsuits are back, along with a whole new generation of lifeguards,” reads the official announcement. The new characters will “fight through a complicated, chaotic private life in this action-packed reboot and show that there is a family you are born into and one you find.”
From showrunner of the “Beverly Hills, 90210” update
Lara Olsen is the showrunner of the new “Baywatch” series. She had previously been responsible for a revival of another cult series of the 1990s, namely “Beverly Hills, 90210”. But the spin-off “90210” couldn’t match the success of the original, even though it ran from 2008 to 2013.
In addition to Lara Olsen, “Baywatch” has three creators of the original on board as producers: Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Gregory J. Bonann.
“Baywatch” initially started as a flop on NBC in 1989. It wasn’t until the second season, which David Hasselhoff produced himself with his company, that the series became a hit. It was sold in more than 145 countries, and at its peak, a billion people worldwide were said to have tuned in to the adventures of the lifeguards.
“Baywatch” ran until 2001 and there was also the crime thriller spin-off “Baywatch Nights” (1995-1997). The TV film sequel “Baywatch – Wedding in Hawaii” followed in 2003.