Stephen Amell helms Fox Reboot of Lifeguard Drama
Stephen Amell has landed a leading role in Fox’s upcoming Baywatch reboot, Variety has learned.
This is the first confirmed casting for the series, which was picked up by Fox in September 2025 for the 2026-2027 broadcast season with a 12-episode order. Fox will host an open casting call for the show on February 18, with production set to begin this spring in Los Angeles.
Amell will star as Hobie Buchannon, described as the “wild child we all loved from the original series” and “now a Baywatch captain, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch,” according to the official character description. “Hobie’s world is turned upside down when Charlie, the daughter he never knew, shows up on his doorstep, eager to continue the Buchannon family legacy and become a Baywatch lifeguard with her father.”
The role keeps Amell in the broadcasting world, as he recently helmed the short-lived “Suits” spinoff “Suits LA” at NBC. He is best known for playing the lead role in the hit CW series “Arrow,” which aired for eight seasons. He also played the role of Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow, in multiple CW DC superhero shows during that time. His other recent credits include the Starz pro-wrestling drama “Heels” and the films “Code 8 Parts 1 & 2.”
He is represented by UTA, Leverage Management and Sloane Offer.
“From the first conversation, Stephen Amell brought exactly what this new chapter of ‘Baywatch’ demands: heart, intensity and that undeniable hero energy,” said showrunner Matt Nix. “He’s the kind of leader who can sprint into danger, carry the emotional weight and still make it feel fun. We’re so excited to get started.”
Hobie Buchannon appeared for several seasons on the original “Baywatch,” where he was first played by Brandon Call and later by Jeremy Jackson. The series originally debuted in 1989 on NBC. It aired one season on that network before going into syndication for the remainder of its eleven seasons, during which it aired nearly 250 episodes. It was renamed “Baywatch: Hawaii” for its final two seasons when production moved to the island state from California. A reunion TV movie aired on Fox in 2003.
At its peak, “Baywatch” was the most-watched show in the world, broadcast in more than 200 countries. The ensemble cast included David Hasselhoff as head lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and helped launch the acting careers of stars such as 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 in 2017 starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron.
Nix is an executive producer on the reboot, along with McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz. McG will also direct the series premiere episode. The series is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle.
