Baywatch reboot series in development at Fremantle

Time to suit up and head back to the beach! Deadline reports that Fremantle is developing a reboot of Baywatch, the classic 90s action drama which starred David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, and more.

It’s still early days as no creatives are attached to the Baywatch reboot, but Fremantle has had early talks with networks and streaming services about the project. Baywatch was created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Gregory J. Bonann, and followed a group of lifeguards who patrolled the beaches of LA County. The show was originally produced for NBC but was cancelled after just one season. The producers believed in the series enough that they bought back the rights and produced a syndicated version of the series. The bet paid off big time as Baywatch became one of the most-watched shows in the world and ran for ten more seasons. The show also spawned a spinoff series, Baywatch Nights, as well as a reunion movie.

Fremantle has long considered a Baywatch reboot, with Fremantle International COO Bob McCourt telling Deadline as just in 2018 following the remastering of the old episodes. “I think we thought the film might have given us reason to reboot the TV series, but given the mixed reviews that didn’t happen straight away,” McCourt said. “I think if this remastered version is sold extensively and a new audience comes to Baywatch, then it will give us a real indication as to whether a new series could be successful. We would definitely think seriously about making a new series and maybe we’ll get approached by some broadcasters about making one.“

The last incarnation of Baywatch was the 2017 feature film adaptation starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. The film was absolutely trashed by critics, and according to original Baywatch cast member David Chokachi, may have even killed a reboot series that was being talked about at the time. “I had pitched them, they rebooted every show from the ’90s and I’d say half of them were hits,” Chokachi said in 2020. “I was like, ‘Why are you guys lagging on this, why didn’t you try and strike?… Then the movie came out and the movie squashed any idea. CBS was going to do the show, I had a meeting with them, a location scout. Then the movie came out and instead CBS went with Magnum P.I. that year.“

Are you down for a Baywatch reboot series?