By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

The first trailer for Fox’s upcoming Baywatch reboot has been released, giving fans a glimpse of the new lifeguard team, dramatic ocean rescues, romance and family conflicts ahead of the series’ January 2027 premiere.

Released on October 13, the action-packed trailer opens with a plane flying dangerously close to two paragliders over the ocean, pulling the vacationers beneath the water. The incident sets the stage for a series of high-stakes rescue missions involving the lifeguards, who return in the franchise’s signature red swimsuits.

Leading the new team is Stephen Amell, who plays Hobie Buchannon, the son of legendary lifeguard Mitch Buchannon, originally portrayed by David Hasselhoff.

Hobie takes charge as captain, carrying on his father’s legacy while leading a new generation of lifeguards responsible for protecting the coastline.

Beyond the beach rescues and action sequences, the reboot will also explore Hobie’s complicated family life.

His world changes when his long-lost daughter, Charlie Vale, played by Jessica Belkin, unexpectedly returns after years of estrangement. Charlie hopes to reconnect with her father but insists she is not seeking financial support or a traditional father-daughter relationship.

“Don’t worry, I’m not looking for a father or money,” she tells Hobie in the trailer. “Just a job.”

Although Hobie has long hoped to build a relationship with his daughter, he worries about her safety in the dangerous world of lifeguarding.

“I have been dreaming of a relationship with my daughter,” he says, while expressing concern about the risks she could face on the job.

Charlie, however, makes her determination clear, telling him that saving lives is her purpose.

The new lifeguard team also features Hassie Harrison as Nat, Shay Mitchell as Trina, Thaddeus LaGrone as Brad, Noah Beck as Luke, Brooks Nader as Selene and Livvy Dunne as Grace.

David Chokachi, another familiar face from the original series, will also return as Cody Madison, bringing a connection to the franchise’s earlier years.

While the trailer highlights the characters’ physical fitness, romantic tension and beachside adventures, the central focus remains the team’s responsibility to save lives.

In one scene, Hobie reminds his colleagues that working as a Baywatch lifeguard requires exceptional ability and commitment.

“To be a Baywatch lifeguard you have to be the best of the best,” he says. “Because it’s our responsibility to protect the people of this city, no matter the cost.”

The reboot seeks to revive the appeal of the long-running television franchise for a new generation while retaining the elements that made the original popular, including spectacular rescues, personal drama and its recognisable beach setting.

The original Baywatch was inspired by the real-life experiences of Greg Bonann, a lifeguard who began working on Los Angeles County beaches as a teenager in 1970.

Bonann developed the idea of turning lifeguards’ daily experiences into a television series and spent years pitching the concept to industry executives.

His opportunity came after he connected with television writers and producers Doug Schwartz and Michael Berk. Their collaboration eventually helped bring the project to television.

NBC ordered a pilot in 1988, and the series began airing in 1989. David Hasselhoff eventually became the face of the franchise as Mitch Buchannon after initially expressing reservations about the project.

Despite its early cancellation by NBC, Baywatch found a second life through syndication. Its international popularity grew significantly, transforming the series into a global television phenomenon.

The show became widely recognised for its beach-rescue scenes, red swimsuits and cast members, including Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Alexandra Paul and Carmen Electra.

Over the years, the franchise expanded into spin-offs and reunion productions, including Baywatch Nights and the 2003 television film Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.

The new Fox series now aims to introduce the franchise to a fresh audience while preserving its familiar identity.

With Stephen Amell leading the cast and several new faces joining returning franchise star David Chokachi, the reboot promises a combination of action, family relationships and beachside drama.