Fox orders Baywatch reboot for 2026-2027 season

Baywatch is returning to television. Fox has officially ordered a 12-episode reboot of the iconic lifeguard drama to air during the 2026-2027 broadcast season.

The new series will be co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle, with Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) serving as showrunner and executive producer. Original series creators Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, and Doug Schwartz will also executive produce alongside Dante Di Loreto.

“In its first run, Baywatch defined an entire era of beach life and elevated lifeguards to iconic status,” said Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network. “Now, with Fremantle and Matt Nix, we’re bringing the California dream to a new generation with fresh stories and rising stars.”

The project has been in development since 2018, with Fox officially joining in 2024 under a script plus penalty deal. No cast members have been announced yet for the reboot.

The original Baywatch debuted in 1989 on NBC before moving to syndication, where it ran for 11 seasons and nearly 250 episodes. It later rebranded as Baywatch: Hawaii and aired a reunion TV movie on Fox in 2003. At its peak, Baywatch was the most-watched show in the world, reaching over 200 countries. The series starred David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon and helped launch the careers of Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Jason Momoa, and Carmen Electra.

The franchise also spawned the spinoff Baywatch Nights and a 2017 feature film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron. With this new order, Fox aims to revive one of television’s most recognizable brands for modern audiences.