A Baywatch television remake is officially in the works after the 2017 film reboot initially killed those plans. The original Baywatch television series ran from 1989 to 1990, with an overhauled series titled Baywatch: Hawaii running from 1999 to 2001. In 2017, a film adaptation of the series starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron was released to largely negative reviews from critics, with the poor reception killing plans for a Baywatch TV reboot.
In a report from Deadline, Fremantle has finally begun developing a Baywatch television remake, and the series is currently in talks with broadcasters and streamers to find a home. Currently, there are no names attached to the project, as development is in the very early stages.
How 2017’s Baywatch Almost Killed the Reboot
In speaking about the possibility of a rebooted series in 2018, Fremantle International COO Bob McCourt said that the intention behind the 2017 Baywatch film was to give the company “reason to reboot the TV series,” but that the film’s poor reviews stalled those plans. McCourt continued by saying that it’s vital to bring in a new Baywatch audience and that if the release of original remastered Baywatch episodes goes over well with viewers, that could indicate the success of a reboot series. While McCourt has been intent on remaking the beach series for some time, he isn’t the only one interested in a new Baywatch.
Original Baywatch star Carmen Electra has expressed her interest in doing a reboot of the show, saying that she’s “down to do it,” but safety conditions would need to improve on-set after citing treacherous waters during filming. Pamela Anderson, who rose to fame as C.J. Parker in the original series, was vocal about her dislike of the 2017 film. While Anderson had a cameo appearance in the film, she “didn’t like it” because “trying to make these movies out of television, is just messing with it.” Anderson hasn’t commented on the possibility of appearing in a remade Baywatch television series as of yet.
With the 2017 film and other spinoff series failing to capture the magic that the original Baywatch had, a television reboot may be the only way to continue the show’s legacy. However, the film’s mixed-to-negative reception doesn’t necessarily bode well for a new Baywatch in this age and could signify a lack of interest in the concept. But, with movement finally happening on Fremantle’s reboot, a new era of Baywatch looks to be finally hitting screens almost 22 years after the original show’s cancellation.
Source: Deadline