Next year, the iconic TV seriesBaywatchmakes the transition to the big screen with a new reboot starringDwayne JohnsonandZac Efron. The original series is among the most successful of all time, running for 11 seasons between 1989 and 2001, turning starsPamela Andersonand the rest of the cast into household names. A new retrospective on the original series reveals quite an interesting revelation, that Oscar winnerLeonardo DiCapriowas almost cast on the show when he was just a teenager.
Before he went on to make Oscar winning blockbusters,Leonardo DiCaprio’s career began on the small screen, with roles on the 1990 TV seriesParenthoodand a recurring arc onGrowing Pains.The Hollywood Reporterreveals that, at just 15 years of age, the actor auditioned for the role of Mitch Buchannon’s (David Hasselhoff) son, Hobie Buchannon, butDavid Hasselhoffhimself “nixed” the casting.Baywatch’s original producerMichael Berksaid thatDiCapriowas “ready to be cast,” but his producing partnerDouglas Schwartzreveals why it didn’t happen.
“Davidthought he was too old to play his son.Davidthought it would make him look older. He had a lot of concerns of that type.”
AfterLeonardo DiCaprio’s casting fell apart, 9-year-oldJeremy Jacksonwon the role. He appeared in 159 episodes between 1991 and 1999, the second-longest run of any cast member on the show, behindDavid Hasselhoff. Of course,Leonardo DiCaprioturned out just fine without theBaywatchrole, earning his firstOscar nominationin 1993 forWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, a role he might not have landed had be been cast inBaywatch. IfLeonardo DiCapriohad been cast, and had a run similar toJeremy Jackson’s on the show, he may have also missed out on his iconic role as Jack Dawson in the 1997 record-breaking blockbusterTitanic, which was the highest-grossing movie of all time until it was bested by anotherJames Cameronmovie, 2009’sAvatar.
This report also reveals thatDavid Hasselhoffalso tried to stop the casting ofPamela Anderson.Michael Berkexplains that David didn’t want a woman who had posed in Playboy on the show, since children tuned in, butDouglas Schwartzhas a different theory about why the actor didn’t want her on the show. Here’s what he had to say below.
“She had these enormous breasts, andDavidthought he would be upstaged by everyone looking at her breasts. Which is what happened.”
BothDavid HasselhoffandPamela Andersonhave come aboard for roles in theBaywatch movie, but it isn’t revealed what roles they will play quite yet. They join a cast that includesDwayne Johnson,Zac Efron,Alexandra Daddario,Kelly Rohrbach,Ilfenesh Hadera,Priyanka Chopra,Hannibal Buress,Jack KesyandJon Bass. Paramount has setBaywatchfor release on July 26, 2025, so stay tuned for more updates on the remake.
