'Baywatch's Biggest Heartthrob Returns for Stephen Amell's Reboot Series

1 week ago 19

Published Feb 17, 2026, 7:57 PM EST

In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, video gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate and detail-oriented writer and journalist at Collider.com. In addition to his work as a Senior Resource Writer, Aidan has also contributed to Collider's features and news reporting sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con and the D23 Expo, and has had the privelege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more. This sincere love for the art of storytelling began at a young age, with Aidan making video movie reviews for the news program at his local high school. That love only increased over the years, with an ongoing career in independent filmmaking and screenwriting after graduating with a degree in Film and television from DePaul University.

25 years after ending, Baywatch is finally coming back in a big way (we're just pretending the Dwayne Johnson movie didn't happen). Fox is officially rebooting the series and already has some serious star power involved, with Arrow and Suits LA star Stephen Amell confirmed to lead the new iteration of Baywatch, playing the classic character of Hobie Buchanon. That certainly set the precedent for other characters to be recast in the lifeguard procedural, but that isn't going to be the case for one crucial character.

Fox has reportedly cast David Chokachi, who was a major presence in the original series from 1995 to 1999, for a role in the upcoming reboot series. Chokachi originally played the part of Cody Madison — the fan-favorite lifeguard who, like the rest of the cast, became a pop culture icon for his striking good looks. The news also confirms that David Chokachi will continue playing the role of Cody Madison, now a mentor to Hobie and the owner of a local restaurant. The official description of Chokachi's character reads as follows:

"Cody runs The Shoreline, the unofficially official Baywatch bar-and-grill, and still puts on the red trunks for the occasional shift saving lives. He’s a mentor to and a friend, providing a second home for his fellow lifeguards… and always offering free wings after a big save."

Hobie's upgraded role to the series lead and Chokachi's casting seem to all but confirm that Fox's new take on Baywatch will be a continuation of the original series rather than a from-the-ground-up remake. That's great news for fans as, in addition to Chokachi's Cody Madison, this also makes it easier for other series mainstays, like David Hasselhoff's Mitch Buchanon and Pamela Anderson's C.J. Parker, to potentially make an appearance. However, regarding the former, the descriptions so far suggest that Mitch Buchanon won't be as active a player as he was in the original series, potentially being killed off or retired. Still, it doesn't fully rule out a return for Hasselhoff. A description for Hobie's elevated role in the Baywatch reboot reads as follows:

"Hobie’s world is turned upside down when Charlie, the daughter he never knew, shows up on his doorstep, eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy and become a Baywatch lifeguard alongside her dad.”

'Baywatch' Isn't the Only Reboot of a Classic Series in Development

Reboots continue to be all the rage these days, as several other classic shows like Baywatch are also on the way. Over at Baywatch's old stomping grounds at NBC (the network that initially and infamously cancelled the now-hit show after a single season before it was revived), Bones icon David Borneaz is set to lead a highly anticipated revival of The Rockford Files — the '70s detective procedural led by James Garner. The other half of Borneaz's Bones duo isn't getting left behind either, as Emily Deschanel is set to lead her own NBC crime procedural, making for something of a network reunion between the two stars.