Los Angeles, Feb 14 (.) Stephen Amell has been cast in a lead role for Fox’s upcoming Baywatch reboot, Variety reports.
As per Variety, this marks the first confirmed casting for the series, which Fox picked up for the 2026–2027 broadcast season in September 2025 with a 12-episode order. The network will hold an open casting call on Feb. 18, and production is slated to begin this spring in Los Angeles.
Amell will portray Hobie Buchannon, the “wild child we all loved from the original series,” now grown into a Baywatch Captain following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch.
According to the official character description, Hobie’s life takes an unexpected turn when Charlie, the daughter he never knew, appears on his doorstep, determined to continue the Buchannon family legacy as a ‘Baywatch’ lifeguard alongside her father.
This role keeps Amell in the broadcast realm, following his lead in NBC’s short-lived Suits LA. He is best known for playing Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow, on The CW’s hit series Arrow, a role he reprised across multiple CW DC shows over eight seasons.
His recent credits also include the Starz wrestling drama Heels and the sci-fi films Code 8 Parts 1 & 2. He is represented by UTA, Leverage Management, and Sloane Offer.
“From the first conversation, Stephen Amell brought exactly what this new chapter of Baywatch demands: heart, intensity, and that undeniable hero energy,” said showrunner Matt Nix. “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,” as quoted by Variety.
Hobie Buchannon originally appeared in Baywatch across multiple seasons, first played by Brandon Call and later by Jeremy Jackson. The iconic series debuted on NBC in 1989, later moving into syndication for the rest of its 11-season run, which included nearly 250 episodes. The show’s final two seasons, produced in Hawaii, were titled Baywatch: Hawaii, and a reunion TV movie aired on Fox in 2003.
At its peak, ‘Baywatch’ became the most-watched show globally, airing in over 200 countries. The ensemble cast featured David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon and helped launch careers of stars like Pamela Anderson, Jason Momoa, Yasmine Bleeth, and Carmen Electra. The franchise also spawned the short-lived spinoff Baywatch Nights and a 2017 feature film reboot starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron, according to Variety.
The upcoming reboot is executive produced by Nix, McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto, and Mike Horowitz. McG will also direct the premiere episode. The series is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle.
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