Stephen Amell Cast as Lead in Baywatch Reboot

Stephen Amell, best known for his role as the Green Arrow on the CW series Arrow, has been cast as the lead in Fox's upcoming reboot of the iconic lifeguard drama Baywatch. The series, ordered straight to a 12-episode season for the 2026-27 broadcast slate, marks the first confirmed casting for the project, which begins filming next month in Los Angeles.

Amell will portray Hobie Buchannon, the son of the original series' legendary head lifeguard Mitch Buchannon, previously played by David Hasselhoff. In this continuation, Hobie has matured into a Baywatch captain, inheriting his father's legacy along Southern California's shoreline. The story kicks off with Hobie's life upended by the arrival of Charlie, his previously unknown daughter, who is determined to join the lifeguard team and continue the family tradition.

Matt Nix, the show's executive producer and showrunner, praised Amell's fit for the role. "From the first conversation, Stephen Amell brought exactly what this new chapter of Baywatch demands: heart, intensity, and that undeniable hero energy," Nix said. "He's the kind of lead who can sprint into danger, carry the emotional weight, and still make it feel fun. We're so...