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Isles could star in
a ‘Baywatch’ movie
DreamWorks aims for a 2006
release for the project produced
by Steven Spielberg
Hawaii could be the location for the film version of the "Baywatch" television series to be produced by DreamWorks' Steven Spielberg.
"We've talked about Hawaii and we've talked about L.A.," said Douglas Schwartz, one of the show's creators and a producer for the movie. "It could be either or a combination. It's too early to tell."
"Baywatch" creator and producer Greg Bonann, a frequent island visitor, envisions the "Baywatch" movie set on L.A. County beaches because that's where the original series was based.
"The stories are about L.A. County lifeguards," he said. "But there is no better place in the world to do water work than in Hawaii, and with this film's significant water work, I envision it being done in your ocean and your (Hawaii Film Studio) tank."
The tank was built by the state specifically for the "Baywatch Hawaii" series, which was canceled in 2001 after two years filming here.
DreamWorks wants to begin pre-production next spring and start filming in summer for a 2006 Memorial Day opening, Schwartz said.
The deal for the film rights was made last Tuesday for more than $1.25 million, a source said.
"Right now, the studio's priority is finding a writer because the 'Baywatch' film is on a fast track," Schwartz said.
Bonann's, Schwartz's and "Baywatch" creator-producer Michael Berk's involvement with the film depends on DreamWorks.
"They can do whatever they want with us," Bonann said. "We hope we get to work closely with them, but contractually they can do whatever they want within some creative parameters."
All parties agreed that the "Baywatch" movie, estimated to cost between $60 million and $100 million, will not be a comedy or spoof. The cost of making the film is considerably more than an hourlong "Baywatch" TV episode, which never cost more than $1.6 million. The film's budget will allow for "major rescues and heroics" that were too expensive and time-consuming for television.
"There are at least 10 big rescues I would love to see done in the film," Bonann said.
No director has been named, but don't be surprised to see blockbuster directors like Michael Bay being courted, a source said. Bay produced the Oahu-based blockbuster "Pearl Harbor" in Hawaii for Disney.
Schwartz said, "This is a movie movie" along the lines of "Charlie's Angels" and "Mission: Impossible."
"We'll have a feature-film cast," he said. "DreamWorks wants to reinvent the franchise for the big screen, not for one movie, but a series of 'Baywatch' films ... poised as summer blockbusters."
There are no plans to use any of the original cast, but possible cameos include Pamela Anderson, David Hasselhoff and Carmen Electra, Schwartz and Bonann said.
Schwartz has been working on "the movie angle" for "Baywatch" for about eight months, emphasizing the deal with DreamWorks "didn't happen overnight."
"Steven Spielberg was a big fan of the show, and when he heard we were looking to put it together as a 3-D movie, he became very interested with all the special-effects possibilities," he said.
Spielberg's interest in "Baywatch" also was for the show's hero aspect, Bonann said.
"He loves that," Bonann said. "This film will be to the 'Baywatch' TV show what a film like 'Private Ryan' is to war movies."
There was little Hollywood interest in a "Baywatch" movie until Spielberg said he was interested, Bonann said. "Then everyone in town was interested," he said.
Next year could be a busy one for movie making in Hawaii with plans for Warner Bros.' "Hawaii Five-0" and Imagine Entertainment/Universal's "Magnum, P.I." also proceeding. Variety says the "Baywatch" deal is one of the most aggressive for a TV show, along with Warner Bros. recent "Hawaii Five-0" feature deal.
Neither Schwartz nor Bonann is surprised by "Baywatch's" rebirth.
"I learned an important lesson from my Uncle Sherman, who created 'Gilligan's Island' and 'The Brady Bunch,'" Schwartz said. "It doesn't matter if the network or the studio cancels your shows. If you believe in it, go back and buy back your rights, then reinvent it over and over again, which is what he did with the 'Brady Bunch' movies and 'Gilligan's Island' reunion show."
The key is having a good brand to begin with, and "'Baywatch' continues to be a world-icon brand," Schwartz said. "This is the biggest aspect for the brand in its history."
Added Bonann, "With the success of the TV show and Hollywood's trend to make films out of successful series, it was just a matter of time."
"Baywatch" launched on NBC in 1989, but low ratings prompted the network to cancel the series. "Baywatch" resurfaced in syndication and became an international hit, airing in 142 countries and 44 languages at its peak.
In 2003 most of the "Baywatch" cast members, including Anderson, Hasselhoff and Yasmine Bleeth, reunited for a two-hour Fox TV movie, "Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding."
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