Baywatch Legend Teases Splashy Comeback in Fox Reboot

Baywatch is suiting up again at Fox, and one of the original red suits might be back — as long as she gets to keep her hair dry.

So, is Carmen Electra back?

Asked at the airport about sliding into the reboot, Carmen Electra — forever Lani McKenzie to a certain generation — played it careful. First came the shrug:

"I don't know."

Then came the vibe check:

"It could be fun."

She says conversations are happening with the people making the new show, and at 53, she is very open to a return... with one condition. Electra has zero interest in battling the surf again, but she is absolutely up for the franchise’s most iconic bit.

"I can definitely do that. And I still look really good in that suit, so that is not a problem... Maybe I could be a captain."

Honestly, letting her call the shots from the tower while serving a slow-mo run cameo feels like the right kind of fan service.

Why the water is a no-go

Electra loves the beach life; working in crashing waves is another story. As she put it:

"I love being around the ocean... working in it is very different."

She called ocean shoots "very complicated," which anyone who has ever tried to mic an actor in saltwater already knows.

Where the reboot stands

• Fremantle started circling a new Baywatch back in 2018. By 2023, actual development was underway.
• In 2024, Lara Olsen boarded as writer and showrunner. Plans shifted after that.
• Matt Nix (the Burn Notice creator) now runs point as creator, executive producer, and showrunner.
• Fox ordered 12 episodes in 2025, targeting the 2026–27 TV season.
• In January 2026, McG (Joseph McGinty Nichol, of the 2000 Charlie's Angels movie) signed on to direct the first episode and executive produce.
• An open casting call is set for February 18, 2026, at the Marina Del Rey Marriott in Marina del Rey, California. It’s free, 18+ only, and you must be authorized to work in the U.S. They’re seeing actors for starring, recurring, and guest roles — and yes, dress for the beach.

The takeaway

Electra is game to return as Lani McKenzie in a dry-land capacity — think leadership role, iconic jog, minimal wave combat. The reboot itself is real and moving fast, with a full-season order, a veteran showrunner, McG on the pilot, and a wide net for fresh faces. If you have the abs and the paperwork, they are literally holding the door open.