The Baywatch reboot, set for a January 2027 premiere on Fox, has announced its full cast including Stephen Amell as Hobie Buchannon and John Beckwith as Julian, a PhD student.. The series will blend new characters with returning original cast members such as David Chokachi and Erika Eleniak, while centering on a romantic plot between Julian and Charlie, played by Jessica Belkin, according to casting details from the production.

Stephen Amell and Brooks Nader lead a new generation of lifeguards

Stephen Amell, best known for his role as the Green Arrow in the Arrowverse, stars as Hobie Buchannon, now a Baywatch Captain. The reboot positions Hobie as a seasoned leader, a significant evolution from the original character who was a junior lifeguard.. Brooks Nader plays Selene, a rival lifeguard captain whose tension with Hobie is expected to drive conflict, according to the announcement. The casting of Amell and Nader suggests a more action-oriented approach, potentially leveraging Amell's experience with stunt-heavy television.

John Beckwith's Julian: A PhD student turns the beach into a research lab

John Beckwith joins the reboot in a heavily recurring role as Julian, a PhD student on an ocean research team assisting Baywatch. According to the source, Julian's storyline notably involves a romantic connection with Charlie after she rescues him. This subplot introduces an academic element to the beach setting, contrasting with the original series' focus on lifeguarding and personal drama. Beckwith's previous work in Ryan Murphy's Feud: Capote and the Women adds a layer of prestige to the cast.

Original cast retrns — but not all: David Chokachi and Erika Eleniak are back

The rebboot brings back several original Baywatch stars, though notable absentees include David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson. David Chokachi reprises his role as Cody Madison in a heavily recurring capacity, while Erika Eleniak returns as Shauni McClain, now a Santa Monica city councilwoman, according to the production. Michael Bergin and Kelly Packard also appear as guest stars. The inclusion of familiar faces aims to bridge nostalgia with new storylines, but the absence of the franchise's most iconic actors leaves a gap that the new cast must fill.

A romantic rescue sets the stage for Charlie and Julian

Jessica Belkin's Charlie Vale, Hobie's biological daughter who arrives hoping to become a lifeguard, forms a key relationship with John Beckwith's Julian after she rescues him. This rescue moment, reported in the casting brief, establishes a traditional Baywatch trope of heroics leading to romance. Charlie's backstory as a newcomer to the beach adds a fresh perspective, while Julian's research role introduces environmental themes that could differentiate the reboot from its predecessor.

What we still don't know about the Baywatch reboot

Several questions remain unanswered from the casting announcement. The source details the cast but does not specify the tone of the series — whether it will be a serious drama or maintain the campy charm of the original. Additionally, the extent of the returning original cast members' involvement beyond guest roles is unclear. Finally, the January 2027 premiere date is more than three years away, raising questions about production timelines and why the reboot is not aiming for a sooner release, as reported by the production.