Fox has officially cancelled Rescue HI-Surf after only one season — is the network’s planned Baywatch reboot to blame?
Deadline confirmed on Wednesday, May 7, that Rescue HI-Surf would not be returning for a second season and there are no plans to shop to show to other networks or streaming services.
The cancellation comes after Rescue HI-Surf received high ratings for its premiere but couldn’t retain viewership week to week. Before Fox pulled the plug, it was announced that The Floor would be taking over for Rescue: HI-Surf after the Super Bowl in February. The scripted series was pushed to Mondays in favor of Rob Lowe’s game show, which scored the coveted post-game slot.
Rescue: HI-Surf, which premiered in September 2024, followed the personal and professional lives of the open-water lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu a.k.a the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world. In addition to Arielle Kebbel, the series starred Robbie Magasiva, Adam Demos, Kekoa Scott Kekumano, Zoe Cipres and Alex Aiono.
During its now-series finale, Will (Demos) returned to Australia but told Em (Kebbel) he would be back for her. Series creator Matt Kester confirmed to TV Insider in March that Will was expected to return if the show got renewed.
Kebbel previously teased the finale to Luxury Handbag Shopping, saying in regards to Em and Will’s relationship: “[Creator Matt Kester] always said we want this to be a will-they, won’t-they all season long, so that at the finale, people are shocked.”
Deadline reported on Wednesday that Rescue HI-Surf’s production value got to be too high since it filmed in Hawaii. The outlet, however, denied that Fox’s planned Baywatch reboot played a significant role in Rescue HI-Surf getting cut from the roster. According to the outlet, Fox planned to air both shows — one during the season and the other during the summer. (Baywatch has not been officially ordered to series yet.)
Before the news that Rescue HI-Surf isn’t coming back, Kebbel had gushed about getting the chance to play a lifeguard.
“I’ve played an assassin, a firefighter, a police officer, and nothing could prepare me for the amount of work it is to be a lifeguard,” Kebbel shared in February, before noting there are “no second chances” when it comes to filming in rough waters. “This is what [Em has] always wanted to do. She’s a true maverick. She’s not only a great lifeguard, but she’s also a great surfer and a paddler.”
The actress continued: “She is also pretty primal at times and a little rough around the edges, especially when it comes to running her mouth, but it’s also because it’s always based in a place of truth.”
Demos, 39, also reflected on how Rescue: HI-Surf was different from every other show, adding, “It’s just more of an authentic look to the North Shore lifeguards … and how heroic these first responder lifeguards are. I think everyone’s going to be stoked.”
