DC Star Suits Up for Baywatch Reboot as Mitch Buchannon’s Son
Baywatch is sprinting back to TV with a next-gen twist, casting a DC TV alum as Mitch Buchannon’s son to tie the revival to its sun-soaked legacy while launching a new era on the sand.
Baywatch is jogging back onto TV, and the Buchannon name is still running point. The hook this time: a grown-up Hobie is in charge, and he has Stephen Amell patrolling the shoreline.
Stephen Amell is Hobie Buchannon
Fox has ordered 12 episodes straight to series for a new Baywatch, with Matt Nix developing and confirming Amell as the first actor locked in. Amell plays Hobie Buchannon, the one-time trouble magnet from the original run who is now a Baywatch Captain, following the path his dad Mitch blazed. David Hasselhoff made Mitch iconic; Amell now carries the family whistle.
The season kicks off when Hobie meets Charlie, the daughter he never knew he had, and she asks to train as a lifeguard under him. That instantly ties the revival to the classic series while giving it a clear, personal engine.
"From the first conversation, Stephen Amell brought exactly what this new chapter of Baywatch demands: heart, intensity, and that undeniable hero energy. He’s the kind of lead who can sprint into danger, carry the emotional weight, and still make it feel fun. We’re so excited to get started," said Nix.
The vibe and the legacy
Fox is promising the whole package: high-octane rescues, messy relationships, and glossy heroics, all against a present-day Southern California backdrop with modern pressures pushing in from every direction.
For context, Hobie’s been around the block. Brandon Call originated the role for a season before Jeremy Jackson took over. The original series launched in 1989 and ultimately played in more than 200 countries, with Hasselhoff front and center and a launchpad for Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, and Jason Momoa, among others.
Who is making it (and where it shoots)
This one comes from Fox Entertainment with Fremantle. Nix executive produces alongside McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto, and Mike Horowitz. McG is directing the premiere. Cameras roll this spring on Venice Beach and at the Fox Studio Lot in Century City.
- Series: Baywatch (new Fox version), 12 episodes straight to series
- Lead: Stephen Amell as Hobie Buchannon, now a Baywatch Captain
- Premise spark: Hobie’s newly discovered daughter, Charlie, wants in on lifeguard training
- Developer/EP: Matt Nix; EPs also include McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto, Mike Horowitz
- Director of premiere: McG
- Production: Starts this spring in Venice Beach and on the Fox Studio Lot
- Producers: Fox Entertainment with Fremantle
Amell’s recent run
If you watched superhero TV in the last decade, you know Amell from Arrow. He also co-led Heels and shows up in Suits: LA. He is represented by UTA, Leverage Management, and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.
Hard to argue with Amell sprinting down a beach. The Hobie twist is a smart way to bridge nostalgia and a new ensemble. Now let’s see how much heat this rescue gets once the whistles blow.