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.
“Thx so much, I love that my character resonated with fans from the original and are stoked that Cody’s coming back,” said Chokachi in a statement on Instagram in response to the news of his casting.
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.