Fox’s upcoming Baywatch reboot continues to round out its cast, with Thaddeus LaGrone (The Land, Mr. Irrelevant) joining the series as a regular. He becomes the latest addition to the ensemble alongside previously announced stars Stephen Amell, Jessica Belkin, and David Chokachi. The reimagined drama is slated to premiere during the 2026–2027 broadcast season.
The new series promises to deliver the high-stakes rescues, tangled relationships, and beachside heroics that made the original show a global phenomenon, while introducing a new generation of lifeguards facing modern-day pressures along Southern California’s coastline.
The cast is led by Stephen Amell (Arrow, Heels), who plays Hobie Buchannon, now serving as a Baywatch captain and following in the footsteps of his legendary father Mitch Buchannon, originally played by David Hasselhoff. Hobie’s world is shaken when Charlie Vale (Jessica Belkin) arrives—his biological daughter he never knew existed. Determined to earn her place among the lifeguards, Charlie brings the same bold spirit that made the Buchannon name famous on the beach.
LaGrone will portray Brad, a former Marine who served two tours in an elite division before returning home to Venice Beach to care for his ailing father. Known for his strength and fearlessness, Brad approaches rescues like a one-man operation. But his biggest challenge on the Baywatch team will be learning that lifeguarding isn’t a solo mission—it’s about trust, teamwork, and relying on the people around you.
David Chokachi will also return to the franchise, reprising his original role as Cody Madison. In the new series, Cody runs a beachside bar-and-grill called The Shoreline, serving as both mentor and friend to the lifeguards while occasionally stepping back into action for a rescue.
Additional casting includes Hassie Harrison (Yellowstone), who plays Nat, an Olympic athlete and elite lifeguard whose discipline and high standards make her a natural leader—and Hobie’s closest ally on the team.
Fox ordered the reboot straight to series for 12 episodes in September after the project spent more than a year in development. Production is expected to begin this spring, filming on Venice Beach and the Fox Studio Lot in Century City.
The original Baywatch debuted in 1989 and, after an early cancellation by NBC, went on to become one of the most widely watched television series in the world, airing in more than 200 countries and reportedly reaching over a billion viewers weekly at its peak. The show helped launch the careers of stars including Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Jason Momoa, and Yasmine Bleeth.
The new series comes from Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted), who serves as showrunner and executive producer. The project is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle, with executive producers McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto, and Mike Horowitz also attached. McG is set to direct the premiere episode. Fox Entertainment Global will handle domestic distribution, while Fremantle oversees international sales.
As Fox prepares to bring Baywatch back to television, the reboot aims to balance nostalgia with a fresh cast and modern storytelling, reintroducing the iconic red swimsuits—and the responsibility of protecting the coastline—to a new generation.