Fans of the iconic red swimsuit, don’t you worry, it’s gonna be alright because forever and always, Baywatch is here.
Fox has confirmed it will revive "Baywatch" for the 2026-27 television season, with the lifeguard drama returning to film on the Southern California beaches that made it a global phenomenon. The network has given the reboot a straight-to-series order for 12 episodes, reuniting the franchise with its Los Angeles birthplace after securing a California state tax credit.
"I'm proud to see the return of Baywatch where it belongs — on sunny California shores," Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday in announcing the incentive, noting the production will create local jobs and bolster the entertainment economy.
Fox Entertainment and Fremantle will co-produce the revival, bringing back many of the original creative forces behind "Baywatch." Matt Nix, known for the series "Burn Notice," has been tapped as showrunner and executive producer, while the show's original creators — Michael Berk, Greg Bonann and Doug Schwartz — will return as executive producers alongside veteran TV producer Dante Di Loreto.
No casting has been announced yet, but Fox executives have signaled strong support for the project.
Filming is slated to take place on Los Angeles-area beaches in the coming year, with production headquartered at Fox's studios in Century City. Will Rogers State Beach on Santa Monica Bay — the primary filming site for the original series — is expected to once again feature prominently as a backdrop.
"Baywatch" originally premiered in 1989 on NBC, starring David Hasselhoff and a cast of Southern California lifeguards. The beach drama was initially canceled after its first season due to low ratings, but it found a second life in 1991 through syndicated broadcasting.
Revived by its creators and star Hasselhoff, "Baywatch" steadily gained worldwide popularity through the 1990s, following the heroic rescues and personal dramas of Los Angeles County lifeguards. What began as a modest network show transformed into a global television phenomenon — at the peak of its popularity, "Baywatch" was declared the most-watched TV series in the world, with a Guinness-record 1.1 billion weekly viewers in international syndication.
The series ran for 11 seasons, ending in 2001, and even saw a reunion TV movie in 2003. Its popularity launched the careers of cast members like Pamela Anderson and spawned spinoffs. A 2017 film adaptation later paid tongue-in-cheek tribute to the franchise's legacy.
Beyond its TV ratings, "Baywatch" played a significant role in shaping the world's image of Los Angeles and its beaches. The sight of red-clad lifeguards sprinting in the surf became synonymous with L.A.'s coastal lifestyle and 1990s pop culture. Tourism officials often credit "Baywatch" for boosting international interest in L.A.'s shoreline, with visitors from Europe to Asia arriving hoping to glimpse the glamorous, golden sands they saw on television.
City leaders are optimistic that the new series will once again spotlight L.A.'s beaches for a worldwide audience.
"Baywatch has long been a valued part of Fremantle's portfolio and continues to be one of the most iconic television series worldwide," said Christian Vesper, Fremantle's head of global drama.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to work alongside our partners at the California Film Commission to create an economically sustainable path for keeping a production like Baywatch – so spectacularly tied to this great city and state – right here in Los Angeles,” said Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment. “We’re especially grateful for the tremendous support from the many public officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who championed this effort, State Senator Ben Allen, State Assemblymember Rick Zbur, L.A. City Councilwoman Traci Park and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. This collaboration between government and entertainment truly shows what’s possible when we work together to support local jobs and economic growth, while showcasing the stunning California coast for audiences around the world.”
The "Baywatch" revival is part of a broader push to retain and attract television production to California. Newsom announced Thursday that 17 TV projects will receive awards through the state's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, which will collectively bring an expected $1.2 billion into the state's economy.
This round brings the total economic impact from the first two TV windows of Program 4.0 to over $2.5 billion. The projects are expected to employ an estimated 5,165 cast and crew members, along with 35,946 background performers over the course of 1,000 filming days statewide. The round will bring $902 million in qualified in-state spending, including $487 million in qualified wages.
"California's creative economy isn't just part of who we are — it helps power this state forward," Newsom said. "From the folks on the soundstage to the people designing the sets, these are jobs that anchor communities."
Earlier this year, the governor more than doubled California's Film and Television Tax Credit program — from $330 million to $750 million.
Since its inception in 2009, California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program has generated over $30.6 billion in economic activity and supported more than 228,000 cast and crew jobs across the state. For every dollar of tax credit awarded, California has seen $24.40 in economic output, $16.14 in GDP and $8.60 in wages.
Several major series are relocating to California from other states and international locations, including "The Night Agent" season 4 from an undisclosed location and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" season 2. Collectively, "Baywatch," "The Night Agent" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" will employ nearly 1,000 California cast and crew members with $116 million attributed to qualified wages.
"Fallout," which moved to California in its second season, will continue production in the state for season 3, representing a significant investment with $166.3 million in qualified spending and $89.5 million in qualified wages — a 21% increase compared to its previous season.
Other returning projects include "Forever" season 2, "Blood Ties" season 2 and "Lot Patrol" season 2. The round also includes four new television series and two pilots, as well as two new series approved under the state's Soundstage Tax Credit Program — "The Paper" and "Dig."
"California continues to prove that when we invest in our creative workforce, the industry invests right back in us," said Colleen Bell, director of the California Film Commission.