Stephen Amell’s Reboot Of Iconic ‘90s Action Series Is Secretly A Superhero Show (Exclusive)

EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Amell's Baywatch series secretly falls into another major genre.

The original Baywatch TV series premiered in 1989. It starred David Hasselhoff as lifeguard Mitch Buchannon, who worked with a group of other lifeguards to patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County. The series was extremly popular, leading the series to later develop into Baywatch: Hawaii, as well as the spinoff Baywatch Nights. Baywatch has been adapted most recently as a 2017 theatrically released film of the same name, starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan during the Stephen Amell panel at Rose City Comic Con, Amell has revealed the key ways that his new Baywatch series distinguishes itself from the original. The actor revealed that he realized about halfway through the pilot that this is a "superhero show" above all else. In an effort to "carve [their] own path," the Baywatch reboot series is also other things, including a "father-daughter story" and more. Check out Amell's full explanation below:

Ash Crossan: What excites you most about what you were presented with and what you've read so far? And how does it compare to the original one?

Stephen Amell: Like the original, there's sand, water, bathing suits. No, the original is amazing. Made in a very different time. It's iconic. We are going to have to carve our own path. We can never ever ever be the original.

Matt Nix, who's the showrunner, [has] done shows like Burn Notice and shows like that. He's really tried to inject humanity. The first season, I don't think this is a spoiler, but it's a father-daughter story. It's about a father and daughter who have never met coming together.

I was halfway through the pilot, maybe even less, when I realized, and this is where I connect to it, one of the reasons I'm so excited - it's a superhero show. That's it.

It's is fully a superhero show when you put on your red swimsuit, or swim trunks, or speedo, as the case may be. Not yet. To me is no different than Oliver putting his hood up and grabbing his bow. It really, actually, very much feels the same way. So I'm excited about that. I'm excited that I'm playing my age.

I like Hobie, my character, because when everything is going wrong and lives are on the line, he couldn't be [calmer]. He couldn't be more in control. He couldn't be more thoughtful and steady. But his daughter wants to go to a party and stay up past 11, he doesn't know what to do. So that was really fun, and there are humorous elements of it that that I really enjoyed getting to play.

The Baywatch reboot series is co-created by Gregory J. Bonann and Lara Olsen, and features Amell in the lead role of Hobie Buchannon. Hobie is the son of Mitch, the iconic lifeguard from the original series, and will now serve as head lifeguard and the protagonist for the rebooted series. As per the early Baywatch trailer, Hobie's daughter (played by Jessica Belkin) shakes things up when she randomly appears on her father's doorstep.

This plot catalyst sets up a more dramatic arc for Amell's Baywatch reboot than its predecessor had. To keep the series running for so long, there were obviously dramatic plot lines in the original series. However, having a man bond with his estranged daughter after years starts things off in a much more grounded place than the original series.

Less grounded, but no less intriguing, is Amell's characterization of the new show as a superhero series. As the actor breaks his statement down more, it makes a lot of sense. Both Hobie and a superhero protagonist counterpart get in a new outfit, safe lives, and work with an Avengers-like band of other lifesavers. This makes Baywatch undoubtedly more appealing for an actor who has made a career out of leading Arrow.

The reboot team is also smart to step into something rather than replicate the old. The first Baywatch series was "made in a very different time" as Amell says. Specifically, it was released at the turn of a decade, and as such carried with it a combination of '80s schmaltz and, eventually, '90s aesthetic sensibilities. To remake it exactly would be to parody. Instead, the Baywatch show is making a wise decision to do something new with this well-loved older content.

Baywatch

Cast

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  Stephen Amell

  Hobie Buchannon

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  Jessica Belkin

  Charlie

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  Thaddeus LaGrone

  Brad

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  Nat