'Baywatch' may feature Nina Dobrev or Ashley Benson to star alongside Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Zac Efron. The two actresses have been shortlisted for female leads. Pamela Anderson, who played C.J. Parker in the original series, wasn't thrilled about the remake.
According to the Daily Mail, seven actresses have been screen-tested to play lead female roles for Paramount's big-screen reboot of the iconic 'Baywatch' series. Among them were Nina Dobrev of 'The Vampire Diaries' and Ashley Benson of 'Pretty Little Liars'. It was revealed that all seven were in the running to star alongside Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Zac Efron who have already been cast as male leads.
The other actresses who are vying for roles include Alexandra Daddario of the 'Percy Jackson' series, Alexandra Shipp of 'X-Men: Apocalypse', Shelley Hennig of 'Teen Wolf', Bianca Santos of 'The Duff' and Denyse Tontz of 'Big Tie Rush'. According to /Film, the actresses who won't be able to bag the lead role may end up as supporting cast members.
Johnson will play David Hasslehoff's character Mitch Buchannon who is forced to team up with a disgraced ex-Olympic swimmer, played by Efron, in order to defend their beach from possible devastation brought about by an oil tycoon. Seth Gordon will be directing 'Baywatch' with Damian Shannon and Mark Swift reworking the existing script. Principal photography is scheduled to kick off in early 2016.
Meanwhile, Pamela Anderson wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of a remake and told TMZ bluntly, 'No one appreciates the remakes.' According to Metro, the 48-year old actress and Hollywood bombshell is best known for her role as the sultry lifeguard C.J. Parker in the original television series in the years 1992 to 1997. Her character became one of the most popular and longest running leads in the series after appearing in five seasons.
Johnson revealed during Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim, California that the role of C.J. Parker was quite sought after. He said, 'I can't tell you the amount of calls we've been getting from the most gorgeous actresses and models in the world, from their agents and managers... They all want to be CJ!'
'Baywatch' is a planned reboot of the hit television series of the same name that ran from 1989 to 2001. The original show starred David Hasselhoff as main lifeguard Mitch Buchannon. The action-drama series followed the lives and adventures of fictional Los Angeles County lifeguards.
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