Fox’s upcoming Baywatch reboot is generating positive momentum ahead of its January premiere, with Los Angeles officials already preparing for a potential second season.
LA Film Liaison Confirms Season 2 Plans
Speaking to city council members on Wednesday, LA’s chief film liaison Steve Kang told local lawmakers: “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.”
Fox and Baywatch producer Fremantle declined to comment on the renewal timeline.
Network Optimism and Production Incentives
According to sources, Fox executives are feeling optimistic about the series ahead of its premiere early next year. A formal renewal decision is unlikely before the network evaluates first-season performance, but early planning for a potential return aligns with the city’s aggressive efforts to secure the production initially.
The series received a $21.1 million tax credit (40%) from the California Film Commission. City officials coordinated extensively across multiple jurisdictions at the county and regional levels to enable filming at the historic Venice Lifeguard Operations Station as a primary backdrop.
Streamlining Film Permitting Processes
Lawmakers discussed the series Wednesday in reference to the “concierge service” delivered to help navigate the complex regulatory process for filming at iconic locations like Venice Beach.
“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?” asked councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the 11th district of Los Angeles.
The newly formed Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment and Creative Industry met for the first time Wednesday to address permitting and regulatory processes for filming in Los Angeles. The committee, led by chair Adrin Nazarian, aims to streamline processes, lower fees, and attract production back at the local level.
