Casting for FOX’s “Baywatch” reboot is taking shape, with Stephen Amell (“Arrow”) tapped as the show’s lead, and more recently, news that David Chokachi will reprise his role as Cody Madison from the original series.

According to a character description released by the network, while Cody occasionally takes on shifts wearing the famous red trunks, he now runs the Shoreline, a bar and grill that has become the unofficial hangout spot for Baywatch lifeguards. A mentor and friend, Cody not only provides a second home for his fellow lifeguards but also always offers free wings after a big save.

Joining the syndicated series in Season 6, Chokachi appeared in 65 episodes before exiting in Season 9. In 2024, he took part in the docuseries “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun,” which unpacked how the show captured the mythology of California’s beach culture, set physical beauty standards for an entire generation, and capitalized on the adage “sex sells.”

The four-part docuseries was produced and directed by Matthew Felker in collaboration with ABC News Studios and featured interviews with over 35 of the show’s cast, including Nicole Eggert, Carmen Electra, Billy Warlock (“Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital”), Alexandra Paul, Gregory Alan Williams, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson, Traci Bingham, Erika Eleniak, Michael Newman, Michael Berk, and Douglas Schwartz, among others.

For the reboot, Amell will play Hobie Buchanan, the son of legendary lifeguard Mitch Buchanan (David Hasselhoff), described as the wild child who has grown up to become a Baywatch Captain, following in his father’s footsteps. Hobie’s world is turned upside down when Charlie, the daughter he never knew, shows up on his doorstep, eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy and become a Baywatch lifeguard alongside her dad. In the original show, the role was portrayed by Jeremy Jackson.

FOX’s “Baywatch” reboot has a 12-episode series order and is set to air during the 2026-2027 television season, with Matt Nix (“Burn Notice,” “The Gifted”) serving as Showrunner and Executive Producer alongside Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, and Dante Di Loreto.

The original “Baywatch” premiered in 1989, running for 11 seasons and becoming the most-watched show in the world, airing in over 200 countries and, at its peak, reaching more than a billion viewers weekly, making household names out of its stars, including Pamela Anderson.

Note: The post David Chokachi Reprising Cody Madison Role In ‘Baywatch’ Reboot At FOX first appeared on Soap Opera Network.

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They couldn't get Brendan Call or the other actor who played Hobie to return, seriously?

7 minutes ago, dragonflies said:

They couldn't get Brendan Call or the other actor who played Hobie to return, seriously?

They wanted someone with "star" power and name recognition. Jeremy Jackson (Hobie in the original) doesn't have that, and I think there are other reasons I won't mention.

Amell has tanked several shows since Arrow and tanked his reputation with his comments about the strikes. I don't blame them for recasting Hobie but they made a poor choice.

7 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Amell has tanked several shows since Arrow and tanked his reputation with his comments about the strikes. I don't blame them for recasting Hobie but they made a poor choice.

Exactly this!

Derek Yates participated in the casting and got a callback. I'm not sure if he got a part.

God bless David Chokachi. While the heteros were ogling Pamela Anderson, the gays were awakening to "Cody".

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Gray Bunny

19 hours ago, Errol said:

They wanted someone with "star" power and name recognition. Jeremy Jackson (Hobie in the original) doesn't have that, and I think there are other reasons I won't mention.

And yet they chose Stephen Amell to star. SMFH.

46 minutes ago, Gray Bunny said:

God bless David Chokachi. While the heteros were ogling Pamela Anderson, the gays were awakening to "Cody".

12 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

And yet they chose Stephen Amell to star. SMFH.

His comments about the failure of "Suits L.A." and about taking the blame for its failure didn't sit right with me.

Actors should never take the blame for the failure of a TV show. It's the producers and the casting director who chose them for the role that should take the blame. The audience only responded by not watching because the producers and casting director gave them reason not to watch.

What did Stephen Amell say about the strikes and the failure of "Suits L.A."?

29 minutes ago, Errol said:

Actors should never take the blame for the failure of a TV show. It's the producers and the casting director who chose them for the role that should take the blame. The audience only responded by not watching because the producers and casting director gave them reason not to watch.

These days, with SOOOOOOOOO many viewing options out there, I think it's tough for many shows to gain traction with the public.

Meanwhile, will "the Hoff" be part of this reboot at all?

19 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

Derek Yates participated in the casting and got a callback.

That's fantastic! Who the hell is Derek Yates?

14 minutes ago, Errol said:

His comments about the failure of "Suits L.A." and about taking the blame for its failure didn't sit right with me.

Actors should never take the blame for the failure of a TV show. It's the producers and the casting director who chose them for the role that should take the blame. The audience only responded by not watching because the producers and casting director gave them reason not to watch.

Beyond that, his microaggression and views regarding POC, being publicly intoxicated and screaming at his wife, plus his words during the last strike, are issues. He just feels more like a liability than an asset for this reboot. Then again, it is Fox, so I shouldn't expect anything different.

1 minute ago, Khan said:

What did Stephen Amell say about the strikes and the failure of "Suits L.A."?

He called the strike a "reductive negotiating tactic" and "myopic" and criticised that the strike banned him from promoting the second season of Heels, which was ultimately canceled anyway, likely due to its poor ratings.

3 minutes ago, Khan said:

What did Stephen Amell say about the strikes and the failure of "Suits L.A."?

These days, with SOOOOOOOOO many viewing options out there, I think it's tough for many shows to gain traction with the public.

Meanwhile, will "the Hoff" be part of this reboot at all?

“Whatever problem you have with the show — because I think that there were issues — it’s my job to solve those, to smooth them over and to gloss them up with some type of performance or something that, tangible or otherwise, covers up those mistakes,” he explained. “Because you do something that is magnetic, that is charismatic, that fixes those problems. And I didn’t do that.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stephen-amell-blames-himself-suits-l-a-cancellation-season-1-1236514359/