Stephen Amell to Lead ‘Baywatch’ Reboot as Grown-Up Hobie Buchannon

Stephen Amell is trading the courtroom for the coastline.

The former Suits LA star has been cast as Hobie Buchannon in Fox and Fremantle’s upcoming reboot of Baywatch, set to premiere during the 2026–2027 TV season.

Amell will play a grown-up version of Hobie, the son of legendary lifeguard Mitch Buchannon. In the original series, Hobie was portrayed by Jeremy Jackson from 1991 to 1999, while Mitch was famously played by David Hasselhoff.

In the reboot, Hobie is now a Baywatch captain following in his father’s footsteps. His life takes a dramatic turn when Charlie, a daughter he never knew about, shows up wanting to join the lifeguard team and continue the Buchannon family legacy.

Executive producer and showrunner Matt Nix praised Amell’s casting, saying he brings “heart, intensity, and that undeniable hero energy” needed for this new chapter of the series.

The show is expected to begin filming this spring at Venice Beach in Los Angeles and on the Fox Studio Lot in Century City. More casting announcements have not yet been revealed.

The original Baywatch, which debuted in 1989, became one of the most-watched television shows in the world. At its height, it aired in over 200 countries and reportedly reached more than a billion viewers each week. Alongside Hasselhoff, the series helped launch the careers of stars like Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Jason Momoa, and Yasmine Bleeth.

According to Fox, the new series will honor the original’s legacy while updating it for today’s audience. Viewers can expect dramatic rescues, complicated relationships, and beachside action — but with a fresh cast and modern storylines.

It’s still unclear whether Anderson, Hasselhoff, or other original cast members will return. However, Electra has said she would consider appearing in the reboot, though she joked she might prefer to stay out of the water, saying ocean filming can be “very complicated.”

The reboot is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle. Nix serves as showrunner and executive producer. McG will direct the premiere episode.