According to Deadline, actor David Chokachi (Escape From Paradise, In Dog We Trust) will be coming back for Fox’s reboot of the Baywatch series. Chokachi will be playing his original character of Cody Madison. As the quintessential heartthrob, Cody Madison returns to the beach to manage The Shoreline, which is the unofficial bar-and-grill. Chokachi will also occasionally wear the signature red Baywatch shorts to save lives. As mentor and friend to his fellow lifeguards, he offers free wings after the big save. Chokachi joins previously announced lead, Stephen Amell (Arrow, Suits LA)
Deadline notes that the Baywatch reboot will still have the adrenaline-fueled rescues and romantic relationships of the original, but with a completely new cast donning the red shorts, with new challenges and missions to protect Southern California beaches.
Deadline additionally notes that after just one season in 1989, NBC canceled the original series. Yet, it became the most-watched show in over 200 countries, reaching more than billion views every week in its prime. Led by David Hasselhoff (Leipzig Homecide, Ze Network), the show also starred the likes of Pamela Anderson (The Naked Gun, The Last Showgirl) and Carmen Electra (Rise of the Tarragon, Good Burger 2), jump-starting their careers in TV and film.
Deadline reports the new reboot received straight-to-order series of 12 episodes in September last year. It had been in development since winter 2024. Production is set for this spring on Venice Beach and the Fox Studio Lot in Century City.
According to Deadline, the reboot will be produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle, with Matt Nix (True Lies, The Gifted) as the showrunner and executive producer. Michael Berk (Killing Hasselhoff, Soul Surfer), Greg Bonann (SAF3, She Spies), Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto (The Iris Affair, Chasing Flavor) and Mike Horowitz are additional executive producers. McG (Kirby Jenner, Uglies) will direct the premiere episode as well as executive-produce.