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Stephen Amell to Headline New ‘Baywatch’ Series
Stephen Amell as Ted Black in ‘Suits LA’. Photo: David Astorga/NBC.

Preview:
- Stephen Amell will lead the new ‘Baywatch’ series.
- It’ll follow the adventures of a grown Hobie Buchannon.
- Fox has handed the show a 12-episode initial order.
The effort to take classic TV shows and rework them for modern audiences continues with word that the new Fox ‘Baywatch’ series from ‘Burn Notice’ creator Matt Nix has found its star.

Stephen Amell, formerly of ‘Arrow’, is aboard to play Hobie Buchannon, the son of David Hasselhoff’s iconic Mitch Buchannon and the role played for most of the original show’s run by Jeremy Jackson.
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This could be what Amell’s post-DC TV career could use, particularly after the solid but little-seen ‘Heels’ jumped out of the wrestling ring after two seasons and ‘Suits LA’ could only manage one poorly-rated run.

Related Article:‘Arrow’ Star Stephen Amell to Lead the Cast of Spin-Off ‘Suits L.A.’

What’s the story of ‘Baywatch’?

The cast of the original ‘Baywatch.’ Photo: NBC.

Following its 1989 debut and a swift cancellation by NBC after one season, the original series became the most-watched show airing in over 200 countries, and at its peak, reached more than a billion viewers every week. Hasselhoff led the series as lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and helped launch the careers of actors including Pamela Anderson.

In the new series, the wild child Hobie Buchannon is now a Baywatch Captain, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch. Hobie’s world is turned upside down when Charlie, the daughter he never knew, shows up on his doorstep, eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy and become a Baywatch lifeguard alongside her dad.

Showrunner Matt Nix on Amell

Stephen Amell as Ted Black ‘Suits LA’. Photo: David Astorga/NBC.

Nix seems to think the casting will work:

“From the first conversation, Stephen Amell brought exactly what this new chapter of Baywatch demands: heart, intensity, and that undeniable hero energy. He’s the kind of lead who can sprint into danger, carry the emotional weight, and still make it feel fun. We’re so excited to get started.”

Per Deadline, the show will film on Venice Beach and at the Fox lot in Los Angeles.

(L to R) Stephen Amell as Ted Black and Bryan Greenberg as Rick Dodson in ‘Suits LA’. Photo: David Astorga/NBC.

Stephen Amell Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘The Tracey Fragments‘ (2008)
- ‘Closing the Ring‘ (2007)
- ‘Screamers: The Hunting‘ (2009)
- ‘Arrow‘ (2012-2020)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows‘ (2016)
- ‘Mi Madre, My Father‘ (2018)
- ‘Code 8‘ (2019)
- ‘Heels‘ (2021-2023)
- ‘Code 8 Part II‘ (2024)
- ‘Suits LA‘ (2025)
Buy Stephen Amell Movies On Amazon
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February 19, 2026
Stephen Amell to Lead the Cast of ‘Suits L.A.’
Stephen Amell in ‘Arrow.’ Photo: The CW.

Preview:
- Stephen Amell will play a lawyer in ‘Suits L.A.’
- It’s the new show from the creator of the USA series.
- The pilot will shoot in Vancouver from next month.
Stephen Amell might still be best known for wearing a superhero suit in ‘Arrow’, but he’s since also starred in the short-lived wrestling series ‘Heels’. He’s going to need both suit style and grappling skills (metaphorically, at least) for a new job, as Amell has landed the lead in the pilot for new ‘Suits’ spin-off ‘Suits L.A.’.

The new show comes from Aaron Korsh, who created and ran the original ‘Suits’ series, which ran from 2011 until 2019 on the USA network.

Now, thanks to an explosion of interest in the series thanks to it streaming on Netflix, the new show has been ordered to pilot at NBC.

Related Article: ‘Arrow’ Star Stephen Amell Will Return as Oliver Queen in the Final Season of ‘The Flash’

What’s the story of ‘Suits L.A.’?

(L to R) Suits Cast Patrick J. Adams, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres and Gabriel Macht at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Todd Williamson/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Assuming it gets picked up, ‘Suits L.A.’ will focus on Ted Black (Amell), a former federal prosecutor from New York, who has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles.

His firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives.

All of this is going on while events from years ago slowly unravel that led Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved.

This new show is not intended to reboot ‘Suits’; instead, much as with CBS’ ‘NCIS’ franchise, it’ll be set in the same world –– which means that the likes of Patrick J. Adams‘ Mike Ross and Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter could show up (though we wouldn’t expect Meghan Markle, who also starred on the original series to make an appearance, she’s a little bit busy doing other things).

What happened with ‘Suits’?

(L to R) Patrick Adams and Gabriel Macht at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

While ‘Suits’ was certainly popular on USA during its run, the show was discovered by viewers when it began showing on Peacock and Netflix last year and ended up breaking streaming records, including spending weeks atop the latter service’s Top 10 chart.

When will ‘Suits L.A.’ be on TV?

That’s more of a question –– it’ll depend on whether the pilot passes muster. Shooting is scheduled to start next month in Vancouver (which will be standing in for Los Angeles as Toronto was used for New York in the original).

Korsch has had mixed success continuing the world of ‘Suits’ before –– direct spin-off ‘Pearson’, starring Gina Torres, only lasted a year in 2019.

‘Arrow’ Star Stephen Amell Will Return as Oliver Queen in the Final Season of ‘The Flash.’ Photo by Steve Schofield / Contour by Getty Images.

Stephen Amell Movies:
- ‘The Tracey Fragments‘ (2008)
- ‘Closing the Ring‘ (2007)
- ‘Screamers: The Hunting‘ (2009)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows‘ (2016)
- ‘Mi Madre, My Father‘ (2018)
- ‘Code 8‘ (2019)
- ‘Code 8 Part II‘ (2024)
Buy Stephen Amell Movies On Amazon
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February 14, 2024
‘Heels’ Cancelled After Two Seasons
(L to R) Alexander Ludwig and Stephen Amell in ‘Heels.’ Photo: Starz.

In line with a number of other networks and streaming services, Starz has cancelled some of its shows –– and has shut down another before it even had a chance to arrive on the channel.

The channel announced that wrestling drama ‘Heels’, which stars Stephen Amell and has just finished its second season, will face the axe alongside ‘Run The World’ and ‘Blindspotting’, both of which had also run for two seasons.

Then we have romance-with-a-twist series ‘The Venery of Samantha Bird’, which was in production (though had paused for the strikes) with two episodes left to shoot. It now won’t air at all on the channel.

‘Heels’ boss Mike O’Malley on future plans

(Center) Mary McCormack in ‘Heels.’ Photo: Starz.

‘Heels’ Showrunner and head writer Mike O’Malley (who also plays Charlie Gully on the show) is committed to finding a home for the series elsewhere, as he told Entertainment Weekly:

“I really do think it’s going to have a life someplace else. We did not intend, nor do we intend, for the season 2 finale to be the last episode of the show.”

O’Malley also addressed his colleague Amell’s comments about the recent strikes.

Related Article: Stephen Amell of ‘Heels’ Attacks SAG-AFTRA Strike as ‘Reductive Negotiating Tactic’

What did Stephen Amell say about the actors’ strike?

Stephen Amell stars in Starz’s ‘Heels.’

You may recall that, back in August, ‘Heels’ stars Stephen Amell spoke out against the strike during a convention appearance.

Here’s what he said, as reported by Variety:

“I support my union, I do. And I stand with them. I do not support striking. I don’t. I think that it is a reductive negotiating tactic. I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think the thinking as it pertains to shows — like the show that I’m on that premiered last night (Starz’ wrestling series ‘Heels’, which launched its second season) — I think it’s myopic.”

O’Malley has weighed in on that, talking about how he got in touch with Amell to help him see that his comments weren’t helpful.

He had this to say to Entertainment Weekly:

“Well, I called Stephen and I spoke to him about it. What he was trying to talk about is that he loved the show, and he had an incredible pride in the show. We knew that his comments were going to distract from the hard work that the people in both the WGA, of which I’m a member, and SAG-AFTRA, were doing. And I knew that immediately because I had been on the picket line. When I heard and I called him up, I said, ‘Stephen, man, we all got to stand together.’ He got it immediately. I just think it was an unfortunate moment. I genuinely think that he put his foot in his mouth. He felt bad about it. I think he was basically saying was what a lot of people were saying, which was that they were frustrated that they couldn’t work. But I know where his heart is, and his heart is standing with his union.”

(L to R) Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig in ‘Heels.’ Photo: Starz.

Stephen Amell Movies:
- ‘The Tracey Fragments‘ (2008)
- ‘Closing the Ring‘ (2007)
- ‘Screamers: The Hunting‘ (2009)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows‘ (2016)
- ‘Mi Madre, My Father‘ (2018)
- ‘Code 8‘ (2019)
Buy Stephen Amell Movies On Amazon

Click on the video player below to watch our interviews with the cast of ‘Heels.’
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September 29, 2023
‘Arrow’ Star Stephen Amell Rejects The Actors’ Strike
‘Arrow’ actor Stephen Amell. Photo by Steve Schofield / Contour by Getty Images.

Stephen Amell, an actor who got his big break playing Oliver Queen on CW superhero series ‘Arrow’ (and went on to appear as the character in the various other DC shows on the network including ‘The Flash’ and ‘Legends of Tomorrow’), has spoken out against the industrial action under way by the union that represents him, SAG-AFTRA.

Here’s what Amell said at the Galaxycon event this past weekend, as reported by Variety:

“I support my union, I do. And I stand with them. I do not support striking. I don’t. I think that it is a reductive negotiating tactic. I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think the thinking as it pertains to shows — like the show that I’m on that premiered last night (Starz’ wrestling series ‘Heels’, which launched its second season) — I think it’s myopic.”

The statement makes Amell one of the highest-profile actors to speak out against the strike so far, though his sentiments are unlikely to be shared by most of his peers.

Related Article: ‘Arrow’ Star Stephen Amell Will Return as Oliver Queen in the Final Season of ‘The Flash’

What’s happening with the strike?

SAG-AFTRA on strike. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.

The actors’ strike, which began on July 14th, follows similar action by the Writers Guild of America, the workers looking for a better deal. The WGA went on strike on May 2nd, after its own contract ran out with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

Much like the Writers’ Guild, the actors’ unions had been negotiating with the AMPTP to secure a new contract. Actors have long been unhappy with reduced residuals brought about by streaming services and are displeased by studios claiming they can’t pay more while company CEOs earn millions. And roughly 12% of actors working today make the minimum required to trigger health benefits and keep their livelihoods.

Here’s SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher on the strike announcement:

“The gravity of this move is not lost on me or our negotiating committee or our board members who have voted unanimously to proceed with a strike. It’s a very serious thing that impacts thousands, if not millions, of people all across this country and around the world.”

Another key issue has been studios’ concerning efforts to bring in new technology to replace physical performers. When the strike was called, SAG-AFTRA revealed one pertinent detail of a studio offer –– digitizing the likeness of background players (or extras), paying them for one day’s work but then being able to use their image in perpetuity and however they please with no other payment.

The AMPTP replied to that with the following statement:

“The claim made today by SAG-AFTRA leadership that the digital replicas of background actors may be used in perpetuity with no consent or compensation is false. In fact, the current AMPTP proposal only permits a company to use the digital replica of a background actor in the motion picture for which the background actor is employed. Any other use requires the background actor’s consent and bargaining for the use, subject to a minimum payment.”

When SAG-AFTRA voted to authorize the strike, an overwhelming 98% majority of returns gave guild leadership the green light to walk out of negotiations if needed, with roughly half of eligible members submitting ballots. Amell’s comments show there is a minority who would prefer not to take the strike action, but few have been prepared to speak out until now.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvaNQOnp3F2/

Amell walks back his comments

Following an understandable backlash from fellow actors, Amell hit Instagram to clarify his statement.

Here’s the opening to his statement, which you can read in full above:

“Understandably, there has been a lot of reaction to the comments I made this weekend about our strike. To ensure there is no misunderstanding about my thoughts and intentions I’m providing what I actually said and clarity/context to ensure my feelings aren’t unintentionally misinterpreted. We all know soundbites can be taken out of context and I have too much respect for my fellow union members to not clarify the record.”

Stephen Amell on The CW’s ‘Arrow.’

Stephen Amell Movies:
- ‘The Tracey Fragments‘ (2008)
- ‘Closing the Ring‘ (2007)
- ‘Screamers: The Hunting‘ (2009)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows‘ (2016)
- ‘Mi Madre, My Father‘ (2018)
- ‘Code 8‘ (2019)
Buy Stephen Amell Movies On Amazon
August 1, 2023
‘Arrow’ Star Stephen Amell Sets Starz Wrestling Drama ‘Heels’ as Next Series

The CW

After he puts down his bow on “Arrow,” Stephen Amell is entering the wrestling ring.

The actor, who will wrap up The CW series next season, has booked his next project: He’ll star in Starz’s pro wrestling drama “Heels.”

Amell will play Jack Spade, owner (and chief villain) of small-time wrestling outfit, the Duffy Wrestling Association. The hard-working husband and father is trying to make ends meet while fighting to realize his impossible dreams.

With the mind of an artist inside a warrior’s body, Jack has a Steve Jobs-like need for perfection — and for control. He wants to build the DWA into an empire, which could risk his marriage and his relationship with his brother.

But first, Amell will first make the eighth and final season of “Arrow.”

The actor is a wrestling fan who has appeared in WWE, Ring of Honor and All Elite Wrestling events. AEW’s Cody Rhodes also made a cameo on “Arrow,” and Amell gave a shout-out to the wrestler on Twitter to join “Heels”:

https://twitter.com/StephenAmell/status/1163453334222598144

August 19, 2019