‘Baywatch’: McG To Direct First Episode & EP Reboot, Signs Development Deal With Fox Entertainment

EXCLUSIVE: McG, who helped successfully reboot one classic TV series, Charlie’s Angeles, as director of the 2000 movie and its sequel, has joined the TV reboot of another, Baywatch. McG has been tapped to direct the first episode of Fox‘s upcoming new iteration of the lifeguard action drama, which comes from Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, Fremantle and Fox Entertainment.

He will also serve as executive producer on the series through his Wonderland Sound and Vision company and has signed a development deal with Fox Entertainment.

This marks a return to Fox for McG, whose first TV series, the 2002 Fastlane, which he co-created, executive produced and directed the pilot for, was at the network. Additionally, he executive produced Fox’s coming-of-age hit The O.C. and comic book adaptation Human Target and directed and executive produced its Lethal Weapon series reboot.

McG also is reuniting with Nix; the duo had collaborated on their most recent TV series, Turner & Hooch for Disney+ and True Lies for CBS.

Baywatch, which recently put out an open casting call, is scheduled to begin shooting in March on L.A.’s Venice Beach and on the Fox Studio Lot in Century City after securing a $21.1M California tax credit.

Per the official description, the reboot will feature adrenaline-fueled rescues, tangled relationships, complicated chemistry and beachside heroics that defined the original — now with an entirely new cast donning the show’s signature red swimsuits, contemporary trappings, tensions and challenges, and a renewed mission to protect Southern California’s shoreline.

Set to premiere during Fox’s 2026-27 season, the series is produced by Fremantle and Fox Entertainment, and executive produced by Nix, who serves as showrunner, McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz.

Fox Entertainment Global holds all domestic distribution rights, and Fremantle manages all international sales.

McG’s film and series credits also include Terminator Salvation, Family Switch, Uglies and the CW’s long-running drama Supernatural. Wonderland Sound and Vision is producing the Amazon MGM Studios movie Clashing Through The Snow starring The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s Christopher Briney and Landman‘s Michelle Randolph, which starts production in February. The company just wrapped the McG-directed Chris Pratt vehicle Way Of The Warrior Kid for Skydance/Apple as well as Season 2 of Average Joe for Paramount+.

Additionally, McG recently purchased the historic Henson Studios lot in Hollywood — now known as Chaplin Studios — alongside John Mayer. He is repped by WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber, Dern.