The first-look trailer for the Baywatch reboot has been released, and viewers have delivered a three-word verdict on the show: 'looked like AI'. The series, starring Stephen Amell, is scheduled to premiere in January 2027 on Sky in the UK and Ireland, and on Fox in the US, with streaming on NOW.
Plot and Cast of the Reboot
The revived show centres on Hobie Buchannon, the son of David Hasselhoff's original character Mitch Buchannon. Once the rebellious youngster of the original programme, Hobie has grown into an experienced Baywatch Captain, following in his father's footsteps. The plot kicks off when his estranged daughter, Charlie Vale, arrives unexpectedly hoping to continue the family tradition as a lifeguard, leading to a mix of family tensions and dangerous beach emergencies.
Stephen Amell plays Hobie, the leader of the Baywatch team, with Jessica Belkin as Charlie Vale and Mary McDonnell as Gayle Buchannon, recasting Hobie's mother. Other cast members include Shay Mitchell, Hassie Harrison, Noah Beck, Brooks Nader, Olivia Dunne, and Thaddeus LaGrone, all portraying members of the new lifeguard squad.
Original Cast Returns and Guest Appearances
Filmed along the Southern California coast, the show will see some original cast members return. David Chokachi reprises his role as Cody Madison, now running The Shoreline, the local bar-and-grill for lifeguards, occasionally donning the red trunks. Erika Eleniak (Shauni McClain), Michael Bergin (J.D. Darius), and Kelly Packard (April Giminski) are also slated for special guest appearances.
However, Pamela Anderson, who played C. J. Parker in the original series, will not be making a comeback. The actress has confirmed she was not invited to return for the reboot.
Fan Reactions to the Trailer
Many fans were thrilled by the first-look trailer shared on X this week, with one post garnering 685,000 views and over 2,800 likes. Yet not everyone was impressed, judging by the comments. One individual commented: "It's like one huge modelling commercial," while another said: "I can see the cancellation from a mile away." A third added: "No Pamela Anderson, no chance." Many others echoed the same three-word verdict that the show 'looked like AI', despite it not being used to produce the show. "So bad it's bordering on AI slop without being AI," said one person, while another commented: "Didn't know a show could look so much like AI."
Previous Baywatch Revivals
Others appeared baffled about the reboot, questioning whether there had already been one in recent years. One person asked: "Did I imagine the Baywatch reboot they did just a few years ago?" While another echoed: "Didn't this come out already?" They are correct, as the Baywatch franchise has experienced numerous reinventions and adaptations over the years. The most high-profile previous attempt was the 2017 Baywatch film, directed by Seth Gordon, featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Mitch Buchannon, Zac Efron as Matt Brody, and Alexandra Daddario as Summer Quinn. Despite earning over $177 million (£134 million) globally, it received mixed-to-poor reviews, derailing plans for a sequel.
The television series Baywatch: Hawaii also broadcast between 1999–2001. Following ten seasons in California, production costs soared, forcing a dramatic shift. Before that, Baywatch Nights ran between 1995–1997, a detective spin-off that underwent a notorious format change. When viewing figures plummeted in Season 1, the programme switched to sci-fi and supernatural horror for Season 2, drawing inspiration from The X-Files. There was also the direct-to-TV film Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding in 2003, serving as a gentle conclusion for the original cast. The original Baywatch series premiered on September 22, 1989, following a pilot movie (Panic at Malibu Pier) aired earlier that year in April. It ran for 11 seasons, until the final episode of the original run aired on May 14, 2001.
