Hollywood actor Stephen Amell has been cast in the lead role for Fox's upcoming reboot of the 1990s lifeguard drama Baywatch. He will portray Hobie Buchannon, the son of the original series' main character Mitch Buchannon. The 12-episode series is set to air during the 2026-27 broadcast season.
The reboot of Baywatch, originally a global hit that premiered in 1989, follows a group of lifeguards patrolling Los Angeles beaches. It starred David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon and Pamela Anderson, while launching careers for actors like Carmen Electra and Jason Momoa.
This new version, co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle, was confirmed last September. Stephen Amell, known for his role as Oliver Queen in The CW's Arrow, as well as appearances in Suits: LA and the wrestling drama Heels, takes on the role of Hobie Buchannon. In the original series, Hobie was depicted as a wild child, but the reboot presents him as a Baywatch captain emulating his father.
The plot introduces drama when Hobie's previously unknown daughter, Charlie, arrives and seeks to join him as a lifeguard. No additional casting details have been revealed yet.
Executive producer and showrunner Matt Nix praised Amell's casting in a statement: "From the first conversation, Stephen Amell brought exactly what this new chapter of Baywatch demands: heart, intensity, and that undeniable hero energy. He’s the kind of lead who can sprint into danger, carry the emotional weight, and still make it feel fun. We’re so excited to get started."
Nix is joined by original creators Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, and Doug Schwartz, along with Dante Di Loreto, as executive producers. Production is scheduled to begin this spring in Venice Beach, with the series airing on Fox in 2026.
