Baywatch‘s Carmen Electra says she’s all-in to reprise the slow-motion runs while wearing the iconic red swimsuit. She is the first actor from the original ensemble who teased her return in the series reboot.
Electra told TMZ that “it could be fun” to reprise Lani McKenzie in the Baywatch reboot. She joined the cast as a series regular in Season 8, which ran for 22 episodes. “I could do the slow-motion run. I can definitely do that,” the actor said. “And I still look really good in that suit, so that is not a problem.” She would rather not film any of the water scenes, however. “It’s the ocean, you know?” she asserted, “I love being around the ocean. Working in it is very different. When you’re working in the ocean, it is very complicated.”
Largely focused on the new lifeguard recruits, Baywatch Season 8 also featured Kelly Packard, Michael Bergin, Angelica Bridges and Marliece Andrada in their series debuts. “Our producer and directors wanted us to do as much of our own stunts as we possibly could,” Electra revealed in an interview with People. “They were constantly pushing for that because I think that was something people complained about in the past. So, when our new cast came about, we were a part of the rookie school class that has to learn everything from the beginning.”
Lani McKenzie (Carmen Electra) in Baywatch.Image via Baywatch Youtube
Carmen Electra Recalls Doing Her Own Stunts in Baywatch
The actor admitted the stunts were so physically taxing that her parts were reshot so her character could “keep up.” The rescue scenes proved particularly difficult. Electra performed many of the onscreen stunts, including tandem surfing and diving off speeding boats. “When we were rehearsing, and we were really getting in the water, sometimes it was really hard,” she recalled. “I would end up getting through things, but that always felt like such a great accomplishment.”
The actor pitched how she wants to reprise her role in the reboot. “Maybe I could be a captain!” she quipped. That’s exactly how Pamela Anderson’s C.J. Parker was introduced in the 2017 film, which revolved around a new ensemble. The Baywatch franchise spawned one spin-off series, Baywatch Nights, and three direct-to-video movies, Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise, Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay and Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.
Baywatch was canceled after its first season due to low ratings, but the show was revived in 1991 through syndication. Baywatch ran for 10 more seasons and became a pop culture phenomenon. At its peak, the series garnered 1.1 billion viewers per episode. “When I joined, it was the No. 1 show in the world, and I just couldn’t believe it. I had to pinch myself,” Electra recalled. Fox confirmed that it had given the green light to a series reboot on Sept. 23.
Baywatch is currently slated to premiere on Fox during the 2026-2027 broadcast season.
Release Date
1989 – 2001-00-00
Directors
Gregory J. Bonann, Douglas Schwartz, Gus Trikonis
Writers
Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, Gregory J. Bonann
Franchise(s)
Baywatch
David Hasselhoff
Mitch Buchannon
Jeremy Jackson
Hobie Buchannon
Pamela Anderson
C. J. Parker
Michael Newman
Michael Newmie Newman
