Fox Revives Baywatch for the 2026-27 Season — The Slow-Mo Comeback You’ve Been Waiting For

Grab your metaphorical red float and practice your slow-mo jog: Fox is officially reviving Baywatch. The network just handed the reboot a 12-episode straight-to-series order, aiming to roll it out during the 2026-27 season.

• Format: 12-episode straight-to-series (so, no pilot test)
• Timing: Slated for Fox’s 2026-27 season
• Team: From Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, with Fremantle and Fox Entertainment; original co-creator Greg Bonann is involved
• Premise: New generation of Southern California lifeguards juggling daring ocean rescues with messy personal lives
• Vibe: Adrenaline-fueled saves, tangled relationships, complicated chemistry, and the signature red swimsuits
• Origin of the reboot push: Fremantle’s plans first surfaced back in April via industry chatter

Fox and Fremantle are basically promising classic Baywatch energy—beachside heroics, glossy sun-soaked spectacle—updated with contemporary trappings, new tensions, and a 'renewed mission' to protect the SoCal shoreline. The official line also doubles down on the franchise staples: pristine beaches, iconic red bathing suits, and lifeguards whose personal lives are as dramatic as the rip currents.

Fox is treating this like a full-on comeback, not a toe-dip. A straight-to-series order means the network is bypassing the usual pilot phase and locking in a full season out of the gate—which is always a sign they want this on the schedule, not stuck in development limbo. And yes, the cast will be entirely new, as you’d expect with a modernization effort like this.

Execs are already in their Baywatch era:

"In its first run, Baywatch defined an entire era of beach life and elevated lifeguards to an iconic status. Now, with our partners at Fremantle, this television juggernaut is set for a modern-day comeback. Together, Fox and Fremantle, along with Matt Nix and original co-creator Greg Bonann, will bring the California dream to a whole new generation of fans with fresh stories, rising stars and all the spectacle that make the Baywatch franchise a global sensation."

- Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network

"Baywatch has always been a treasured asset in Fremantle's portfolio and remains one of the most iconic series in television history globally. We have found the perfect partners in Fox to help us maintain this legacy. With Matt Nix at the helm, we are in great hands, as he excels at telling engaging and entertaining stories. Our goal is to reconnect with existing fans while also introducing a new generation to the world of these famous lifeguards."

- Christian Vesper, CEO Global Drama, Fremantle

Inside baseball note: aiming for the 2026-27 season means this has a long runway, which is useful when you’re building a big glossy network drama from scratch. Expect a lot of surf, a lot of sun, and a lot of interpersonal chaos—aka, Baywatch doing Baywatch.