A Baywatcher from the original series is returning for the reboot.
David Chokachi will reprise his role of Cody Madison for Fox‘s Baywatch. Hailing from seasons six through nine of the original series, his official character description reads, “Cody runs The Shoreline, the unofficially official Baywatch bar-and-grill, and still puts on the red trunks for the occasional shift saving lives. He’s a mentor to and a friend, providing a second home for his fellow lifeguards… and always offering free wings after a big save.”
Chokachi joins as the second confirmed cast member for Fox’s Baywatch reprisal. Stephen Amell was announced as part of the cast on Friday, who will portray series lead Hobie Buchannon, son of Mitch Buchannon (portrayed by David Hasselhoff). No other casting details have been revealed.
A logline for the series reads, “The wild child Hobie Buchannon we all loved from the original series is now a Baywatch Captain, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch. Hobie’s world is turned upside down when Charlie, the daughter he never knew, shows up on his doorstep, eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy and become a Baywatch lifeguard alongside her dad.”
Chokachi appeared on Baywatch from 1995-1999, and has also appeared in Witchblade (2001-2002), Soul Surfer (2011) and Emerald Run (2020), among other projects.
The Baywatch reboot will feature 12 episodes, debuting in the 2026-27 season from Fox Entertainment and Fremantle, which holds the rights to the original show. Production is set to begin this spring on Los Angeles’ famed Venice Beach, in addition to the historic FOX Studio Lot in Century City.
Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto, and Mike Horowitz. McG will also direct the series premiere episode.
Chokachi is represented by LINK Entertainment and Singular Talent.
