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‘Suits’ alum snags lead in Fox’s ‘Baywatch’ reboot and he’s taking over as Hobie Buchannon’s next chapter

‘Suits LA’ and ‘Arrow’ star steps into the ‘Baywatch’ reboot as Hobie Buchannon, launching a new generation of lifeguards on Fox

Fox is officially bringing ‘Baywatch’ back to primetime, and the first big casting announcement is already causing a stir. Variety reports that Stephen Amell has locked down the lead role in the network’s upcoming reboot, marking the first confirmed actor attached to the series. For those who are not up to speed, the series was given a 12-episode order for the 2026-2027 television season after Fox greenlit the project back in September 2025. Cameras are set to begin rolling this spring in Los Angeles. The network is even hosting an open casting call on February 18 to fill out the remaining slots in the lineup. 

So if you’ve ever dreamed of sprinting across the sand in dramatic fashion, this might be your chance. Amell will take on the role of Hobie Buchannon, a character that longtime fans will remember immediately. Only now, Hobie is no longer the trouble-making teenager who likes to hang out around the lifeguard tower. He’s all grown up. He’s in charge. He’s a Baywatch captain, just like his father, Mitch Buchannon. And that’s where things get complicated. The official character description explains that Hobie’s life takes an unforeseen turn when a daughter he never knew about suddenly appears at his door.

Her name is Charlie, and she’s determined to continue “the Buchannon family legacy and become a Baywatch lifeguard alongside her dad.” As far as Amell is concerned, this is the kind of role that keeps him rooted in network television. He has most recently starred in ‘Suits LA’ for NBC, although that particular legal spin-off didn’t quite see many seasons. Prior to that, he had become a household name as Oliver Queen in ‘Arrow,’ which lasted for eight seasons on The CW. His portrayal of the brooding vigilante also stretched across multiple DC crossover events during that era.

Outside the superhero world, Amell starred in the wrestling drama ‘Heels’ on Starz and appeared in the sci-fi action films ‘Code 8’ and its sequel. He’s no stranger to physical roles, and playing a lifeguard captain seems like a natural fit for someone already comfortable with training schedules and action-heavy scenes. The character of Hobie Buchannon dates back to the original ‘Baywatch’, which first aired in 1989 on NBC. That first season didn’t exactly set the ratings charts on fire, but the series found new life in syndication, eventually running for 11 seasons and churning out nearly 250 episodes.

The show was later relocated to Hawaii for the last two years of its run, during which it was renamed ‘Baywatch: Hawaii’. Additionally, a reunion television movie was aired on Fox in 2003, keeping the brand alive for longtime viewers. At its height, ‘Baywatch’ became a global television juggernaut, airing in more than 200 countries. The cast included David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon, alongside Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Carmen Electra, and even future ‘Aquaman’ star Jason Momoa in later seasons. The franchise also experimented with expansion in the 1990s with ‘Baywatch Nights’, a short-lived spinoff that leaned into detective storylines.