Even after years of rumors I never thought that a new Baywatch film would actually move forward, but indeed it seems like it may happen. While The Break-Up director Jeremy Garelick has been attached to the project for at least three years, it seems to have switched hands, as Vulture reports Reno 911! co-creator Robert Ben Garant has hopped aboard to direct the film.
Written by Rescue Me‘s Peter Tolan, we know that this one will take a comedic approach on the long-running dramatic show starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson. We last got word this summer that Justin Timberlake was looking at a role as “a disgraced former Olympic swimmer who tries out for the Baywatch crew,” but aside from some likely cameos that’s about all we know.
Produced by Ivan Reitman, Beau Flynn, and Tripp Vinson, the Paramount Pictures project could find some success if it takes a completely different self-aware look like this year’s top comedy 21 Jump Street — and the success of that film is perhaps one of the reasons this is seeing new life. Garant’s comedy tone makes for a strong choice and we’ll get to see more of him behind the camera when his next feature, the dark comedy Hell Baby, arrives in theaters next year.
What do you think about Garant taking on the Baywatch movie?