“Baywatch” is back. Fox has officially given a straight-to-series order for a reboot of the legendary lifeguard series to air during the 2026-2027 broadcast season.

Fox Entertainment and Fremantle are co-producing the reboot, which has been given a 12-episode order. Matt Nix will serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Dante Di Loreto, and Doug Schwartz also executive producing. Berk, Bonnan, and Schwartz were the creators of the original series.

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“In its first run, ‘Baywatch’ defined an entire era of beach life and elevated lifeguards to an iconic status. Now, with our partners at Fremantle, this television juggernaut is set for a modern-day comeback,” said Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network. “Together, Fox and Fremantle, along with Matt Nix and original co-creator Greg Bonann, will bring the California dream to a whole new generation of fans with fresh stories, rising stars and all the spectacle that make the ‘Baywatch’ franchise a global sensation.”

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Fremantle began toying with the idea of rebooting the series and its iconic red swimsuits as early as 2018, with Fox coming onboard in 2024 with a script plus penalty commitment. No cast members are attached to the reboot at the time of this publishing.

“Baywatch” originally debuted in 1989 on NBC. It aired for one season on that network before moving into syndication for the remainder of its 11-season run, during which it aired nearly 250 episodes. It was renamed “Baywatch: Hawaii” for its final two seasons as production moved to the island state from California. A reunion TV movie aired on Fox in 2003.

“’Baywatch’ has always been a treasured asset in Fremantle’s portfolio and remains one of the most iconic series in television history globally. We have found the perfect partners in Fox to help us maintain this legacy. With Matt Nix at the helm, we are in great hands, as he excels at telling engaging and entertaining stories,” said Christian Vesper, CEO of global drama for Fremantle. “Our goal is to reconnect with existing fans while also introducing a new generation to the world of these famous lifeguards.”

At its peak, “Baywatch” was the most-watched show in the world, airing in over 200 countries. The ensemble cast included David Hasselhoff as head lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and helped launch the acting careers of stars like Pamela Anderson, Jason Momoa, Yasmine Bleeth, and Carmen Electra. The show also spawned the short-lived spinoff, “Baywatch Nights,” and was rebooted as a feature film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron in 2017.

With the series order, “Baywatch” will be the second lifeguard rescue series Fox will have had on the air in recent years. The broadcaster previously aired “Rescue: HI-Surf,” which was executive produced by John Wells. That show was canceled after just one season in May 2025.