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The iconic red swimsuits are returning to Southern California's shoreline, and one of the most recognizable faces in collegiate sports is leading the charge into the surf.
Olivia "Livvy" Dunne, the former LSU national champion gymnast and social media powerhouse, has officially transitioned from the balance beam to the beach after being cast in the upcoming FOX reboot of Baywatch.
Earlier this month, Deadline confirmed that Olivia Dunne will take on the recurring role of Grace, described as a "highly enthusiastic junior lifeguard."
The role marks the professional acting debut for the 23-year-old, who recently revealed she began taking private acting lessons following her retirement from competitive gymnastics last April.
On Sunday, Olivia Dunne offered fans an extensive first look at her transformation into a TV lifeguard, sharing a series of behind the scenes photos from the Venice Beach set with her 13 million followers.
From action shots of a beach sprint to candid moments reading her script while lounging on the sand, Olivia Dunne appeared to lean into the nostalgic "slow motion" trope that defined the original 1990s phenomenon.
"I only run in slow motion now," she joked in the caption, while a previous post quipped, "I'm not a lifeguard, but i play one on tv."
Stephen Amell leads a modernized squad
The 12 episode premiere season, helmed by showrunner Matt Nix (Burn Notice), aims to blend the adrenaline fueled rescues of the original series with a more grounded, contemporary tone.
While Olivia Dunne's character, Grace, represents the new generation of junior guards, the series is anchored by Stephen Amell, who takes on the lead role of Hobie Buchannon.
In this reimagining, Hobie has followed in the footsteps of his father, Mitch, to become a Baywatch Captain.
The cast is further bolstered by a mix of established actors and social media influencers, including Shay Mitchell, Brooks Nader, Noah Beck, Hassie Harrison, and Jessica Belkin, the latter of whom plays Hobie's estranged daughter, Charlie.
Adding a bridge to the franchise's legacy, David Chokachi is confirmed as the only original cast member currently set to return.
David Chokachi will reprise his role as Cody Madison, though the character has aged organically since his last appearance in 1999.