By Isabella Torregiani
2:18pm PST, Feb 18, 2026
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Prepare to see red swimsuits make a comeback!
David Chokachi — star of the original
Baywatch franchise — is set to return to lead Fox's reboot of the beloved series.
Keep reading for more on his return… MORE:
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David Chokachi is returning to the role of Cody Madison on Fox's upcoming reboot of Baywatch, joining series lead Stephen Amell.
Amell will take on the role of Hobie Buchanon, following in the footsteps of his father — legendary lifeguard Mitch Buchannon, who was played by David Hasselhoff on the original show.
According to the official character description, Cody now runs a restaurant called The Shoreline — "the unofficially official Baywatch bar-and-grill" — and "still puts on the red trunks for the occasional shift saving lives." He's described as a mentor to and friend of the fresh crop of lifeguards, providing them "a second home" and "always offering free wings after a big save."
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David Chokachi joined Baywatch in its sixth season in 1995 and remained with the show through Season 9 in 1999.
After his run on the hit series, he brought his lifesaving skills to another show, starring on the surf drama Beyond the Break from 2006 to 2009.
Chokachi's big-screen credits include Atlantic Rim, Psycho Beach Party and Soul Surfer.
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In September 2025, Fox ordered 12 episodes of Baywatch for the 2026 – 2027 TV season.
"In its first run, Baywatch defined an entire era of beach life and elevated lifeguards to an iconic status. Now, with our partners at Fremantle, this television juggernaut is set for a modern-day comeback," Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network, said in a press release.
"Together, FOX and Fremantle, along with Matt Nix and original co-creator Greg Bonann, will bring the California dream to a whole new generation of fans with fresh stories, rising stars and all the spectacle that makes the Baywatch franchise a global sensation," he added.
Nix is the reboot's showrunner and executive producer, alongside producers Bonann, McG, Michael Berk, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz.
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Baywatch was once the most-watched television show in the world, reaching viewers in more than 200 countries.
The series helped turn David Hasselhoff,
Pamela Anderson,
Jason Momoa,
Yasmine Bleeth and
Carmen Electra into household names.
It's not yet confirmed if Anderson, Hasselhoff or other familiar cast members will reprise their roles, but Electra has indicated she'd be open to returning.
"It could be fun," she told
TMZ in 2025.
However, she might have one condition: "I don't know if I'd want to be in the water," she said.
"It's the ocean, you know? I love being around the ocean. Working in it is very different. When you're working in the ocean, it is very complicated," Electra added.
