First Look at Shay Mitchell, Livvy Dunne and New Lifeguard Team in ‘Baywatch’
Venice Beach has been the backdrop for numerous Hollywood productions, but few have the nostalgic significance of a show that once defined a decade of television. The iconic red swimsuits, slow-motion sprints along the shore, and sun-soaked drama were integral to American pop culture long before the advent of streaming.
This legacy is what Fox is banking on as it revives ‘Baywatch‘ for a new generation. The original series, which ran for eleven seasons, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched television show globally at its peak, launching the careers of stars like David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, and Jason Momoa.
Recently released promotional stills provide fans with their first clear look at the cast stepping into these iconic roles. Shay Mitchell, Hassie Harrison, Livvy Dunne, and Brooks Nader are featured in the new images, sporting the same red one-pieces that made the franchise a household name decades ago.
The reboot centers on Hobie Buchannon, portrayed by Stephen Amell, who has grown up to become the new Baywatch captain, following in his father Mitch’s footsteps. His life takes an unexpected turn when Charlie, the daughter he never knew he had, arrives seeking her place on the lifeguard team, played by Jessica Belkin.
Mitchell takes on the role of Trina, a former lawyer who left her prestigious law firm to fully commit to lifeguarding. Harrison portrays Nat, a former foster child turned Olympic athlete who is Hobie’s closest friend and confidant on the beach.
Nader plays Selene, the sharp-tongued captain of the Zuma Beach lifeguards, whose rivalry with Hobie runs deeper than initially apparent. Dunne, a former LSU gymnast and social media influencer with over fifteen million followers, makes her professional acting debut as Grace, an eager junior lifeguard who completes the recurring cast.
The series also welcomes back familiar faces from the original, with David Chokachi reprising his role as Cody Madison and Erika Eleniak returning as Shauni McClain in a guest role. Oscar and Emmy nominee Mary McDonnell joins the cast in a recurring role as Hobie’s mother, adding a layer of family drama.
Behind the scenes, Matt Nix serves as showrunner, with McG directing the series premiere and executive producing alongside original co-creators Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, and Doug Schwartz. Fox and Fremantle are co-producing the twelve-episode season, which received a straight-to-series order without going through the traditional pilot process.
Filming commenced in March at Venice Beach and the Fox studio lot in Century City, supported by a $21.1 million tax credit from the California Film Commission. The show is set to premiere in late January 2027 as part of a planned midseason launch, with Fox executives expressing confidence in this scheduling strategy during recent upfront presentations.
Cast members have shared what makes this version distinct from both the original series and the 2017 film. Nader described the new show as one that “the world really needs right now,” highlighting its dramatic yet uplifting nature that leaves viewers feeling better after each episode, according to comments made to TV Insider.
Fan reactions to the first images have been mixed yet vocal, with some viewers questioning the significant presence of social media influencers in the cast, while others are simply thrilled to see the return of the red swimsuits and slow-motion running on network television. This kind of divided response is nothing new for a franchise that has always embraced its campy reputation, even during its most successful years.
Whether this new ‘Baywatch’ can recapture even a fraction of the original show’s massive global audience remains to be seen, but Fox is clearly positioning it as a marquee midseason event. With action sequences that cast members have likened to superhero movies and a script focused on family drama intertwined with beachside heroics, the network seems to be aiming for something beyond mere nostalgia.
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