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Thousands of aspiring actors descended on Marina Del Rey in Los Angeles on Wednesday for a chance at landing a role in the upcoming Baywatch reboot.
The soapy drama which followed a group of life guards in LA became one of the most-watched shows in the world when it aired from 1989 to 2001, creating stars out of the likes of Pamela Anderson, David Hasselhoff and Carmen Electra.
A new version will air for 12 episodes on Fox in the 2026-27 television season and will be produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle.
The open casting call – uncommon in the post pandemic era of self-tape auditions – attracted many local actors looking for their big break.
Actor Stephen Amell, who will have a lead role in the reboot, was also present at the casting call as was David Chokachi who played Cody Madison in the original show.
Vice President of casting at Fox, Brittainy Roberts, told the Los Angeles Times the open casting was ‘an opportunity to really get people in the room in a large-scale way’ and allow ‘people an opportunity that maybe they aren’t getting in this new landscape of auditioning.’
Speaking to the New York Post, she added: ‘Our business has certainly struggled since Covid and strikes and fires, and we’re so excited to be shooting in LA.
‘Opening it up to people in the community of talent that’s here, but also anyone else from around the country that wants to come and be a part of this major event, it was just the perfect show to do it on.’
Demand was so high on the day that the casting team ran 20 audition rooms simultaneously to get through all the hopefuls.
In a statement to Variety, Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network, said: ‘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.’
Christian Vesper, CEO of global drama for Fremantle, added: ‘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.
Although it consistently received negative reviews from critics, Baywatch was a hit with viewers.
For its final two years on air, the show was retitled Baywatch: Hawaii, with future movie star Jason Mamoa joining the cast.
At its peak, Baywatch was watched by 1.1 billion viewers in over 200 countries.
The show was revived as a feature film in 2017 starring Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron and Priyanka Chopra.
In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Pamela Anderson revealed she still owns the iconic red swimsuit she wore on the show.
