With a rumoured remake in the works, Baywatch might return to our screens.
According to Deadline, Freemantle is working on a remake of the legendary 1990s action movie starring Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff.
There are presently no creatives linked to the project, so we’re a long way from learning anything about the show’s narrative or cast, including whether any prior stars will return.
The first show, which debuted in 1989, portrayed a group of lifeguards on a busy beach as they saved people from dangerous seas while dressed in their trademark red swimsuit.
The programme was cancelled after one season, but it was later resurrected and went on to become NBC’s most-watched TV series in the world.
It lasted 11 seasons before producing its own feature-length picture in 2017.
The film, which starred Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Zac Efron, saw the duo and their lifeguarding crew strive to take down a drug kingpin in order to defend their beach.
The film garnered largely unfavourable reviews, thus putting an end to the possibility of a remake of the series, which had being explored at the time.
Back in 2018, Fremantle International COO Bob McCourt told Deadline that a remake was ‘certainly discussed,’ but the film’s mixed reception put a crimp on plans.
‘I think we thought the film might have given us reason to reboot the TV series, but given the mixed reviews that didn’t happen straight away,’ he said when discussing remastering old episodes of the show in high definition.
‘I think if this remastered version is sold extensively and a new audience comes to Baywatch, then it will give us a real indication as to whether a new series could be successful.
‘We would definitely think seriously about making a new series and maybe we’ll get approached by some broadcasters about making one.’
David Chokachi, an original Baywatch cast member, previously stated that he had suggested a remake, but that the film led to his ideas being vetoed.
‘I had pitched them, they rebooted every show from the ’90s and I’d say half of them were hits,’ Chokachi said in 2020 during an episode of The Production Meeting.
‘I was like, “Why are you guys lagging on this, why didn’t you try and strike?”… Then the movie came out and the movie squashed any idea.
‘CBS was going to do the show, I had a meeting with them, a location scout. Then the movie came out and instead CBS went with Magnum P.I. that year.’
Source My Celebrity Life.
