When 9-1-1 debuted in 2018, it was an instant sensation. With a star-studded cast including Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, and the creative genius of Ryan Murphy, the first-responder drama delivered relentless action and jaw-dropping rescues. But by 2023, the show's hefty price tag—around $9 million per episode plus licensing fees to Disney's 20th Television—became too much for Fox. The network let the series go, and it found a new home at ABC. Two years later, Fox is still hunting for a worthy successor, and it looks like they've finally found one in a beloved classic.
Failed Attempts: Lone Star and Rescue HI-Surf
Fox tried to keep the momentum going with 9-1-1: Lone Star, a spin-off starring Rob Lowe and Gina Torres set in Austin. But after the flagship moved to ABC, the spin-off lost its audience and was canceled in 2024, airing its finale in early 2025. Then came Rescue HI-Surf, a Hawaii-set drama that premiered in fall 2024. Critics and viewers alike found it too melodramatic, and it was axed after just one season. The network was left scrambling for a replacement.
Baywatch Rises Again
Rumors of a Baywatch reboot have been swirling for years, and now it's official. Fox has given a straight-to-series order for 12 episodes, with several original creators returning. The showrunner is Matt Nix, known for Burn Notice. The series is slated to premiere in January 2027, and the cast is already generating buzz. Stephen Amell, famous for Arrow, will play Hobie Buchannon, the son of David Hasselhoff's iconic Mitch Buchannon, now a Baywatch captain. Jessica Belkin plays Charlie Vale, Hobie's estranged daughter from Texas, and Hassie Harrison is Nat, his best friend. Noah Beck and Shay Mitchell round out the cast. Original stars David Chokachi and Erika Eleniak are returning, though Pamela Anderson has confirmed she won't be back.
Why Baywatch Could Be the Perfect Fit
The original Baywatch ran from 1989 to 2000, becoming a cultural phenomenon with its red swimsuits and slow-motion beach runs. It proved that first-responder shows could thrive in unconventional settings, and it helped launch the careers of David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, and a young Jason Momoa. The show also broke ground by having female lifeguards save the day as often as the men, even if it was criticized for sexualization.
For Fox, Baywatch offers a built-in audience and instant name recognition—something Rescue HI-Surf lacked. Fans of the original will likely tune in out of curiosity, giving the network a strong premiere. If the reboot captures the drama and excitement of the original, it could finally fill the void left by 9-1-1. As Fox continues to rebuild its lineup, this revival might just be the lifeline it needs.
For more on upcoming reboots, check out our coverage of the Rockford Files reboot and the Constantine reboot. And if you're a fan of action-packed dramas, you might enjoy our list of top Netflix original thrillers.
