Los Angeles officials are already preparing for the possibility of more Baywatch, even though Fox’s reboot has not yet made its January debut and a renewal decision is not expected before the network sees how Season 1 performs.
During a Wednesday discussion with city council members, LA’s chief film liaison Steve Kang said the production had been pleased with the city’s support during its first season and indicated that local officials expect the series to come back to Los Angeles.
“I can say with confidence that they are very happy with the concierge service that we were able to provide [on Season 1], and they will be returning to Los Angeles for a second season next year,” Kang told lawmakers.
Fox and Baywatch producer Fremantle declined to comment.
According to sources, Fox executives are optimistic about the series ahead of its premiere at the top of next year. Still, the source material indicates that a renewal decision is unlikely to come before the network has a chance to assess how the first season performs. That leaves Kang’s comments as a notable signal from the city side rather than an official pickup announcement from the studio or network.
The discussion also offered a look at how aggressively Los Angeles officials worked to land and support the production. The reboot received a $21.1 million tax credit, representing 40%, from the California Film Commission. The city also coordinated across multiple jurisdictions at the county and regional level so the production could use the historic Venice Lifeguard Operations Station as a main backdrop.
That local coordination was at the center of Wednesday’s conversation. Lawmakers were discussing the series as an example of the “concierge service” provided to productions trying to navigate the complex permitting and regulatory requirements tied to filming at recognizable Los Angeles locations, including Venice Beach.
Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents Los Angeles’ 11th district, framed Baywatch as a case study for what the city may be able to improve before another season returns.
“Now we know Baywatch is going to be back for Season 2…are there some things that we took from that experience, changes that we can make, operational changes that might be helpful?” Park asked.
Los Angeles Looks to Make Filming Easier
The Baywatch remarks came during the first meeting of the newly formed Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment and Creative Industry. The committee, chaired by Adrin Nazarian, is focused on Los Angeles’ permitting and regulatory processes for filming.
Its stated goals include streamlining procedures, lowering fees and attracting production back at the local level. The Baywatch reboot appeared to serve as an early example of the kind of high-profile production the city is trying to support more effectively.
The city’s interest in a potential second season is also tied to how strongly local leaders pursued the show in the first place. The production’s use of Venice Beach and the Venice Lifeguard Operations Station connects the reboot to locations that are central to the show’s Los Angeles footprint, while the tax credit and city coordination reflect the broader effort to keep production in California.
For now, the clearest official position from the entertainment companies involved is no comment. But inside City Hall, the tone on Wednesday was notably forward-looking, with officials discussing what worked during Season 1 and how the process could be adjusted if the series returns.
What Happens Next?
Baywatch is set to debut on Fox in January. Sources indicate Fox executives are optimistic, but the network is not expected to make a renewal decision until after it can evaluate Season 1’s performance.
If the reboot does move ahead with a second season in Los Angeles, city officials have already identified the production as part of a larger conversation about making LA more responsive to film and television shoots, especially those involving complex, high-profile locations.