The long-gestating adaptation of Baywatch may actually be happening this time. After going through numerous script drafts, Paramount believes that Horrible Bosses director Seth Gordon is the right person to helm the adaptation of the beach-based drama action television series that aired 242 episodes and was on air for 11 seasons. But rather than have the series star David Hassseloff make the slow-motion run on the beach to make a lifesaving rescue, it looks like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be the one to take his place and lead his team of bikini-clad lifeguards who patrol the sunny sandy beaches of Los Angeles, California. More on this story below.

According to THR, development delays were due to the studio looking for the right story and finding the right tone.

Paramount and producers Beau Flynn and Ivan Reitman have faith in the film’s most recent script, which was penned by the rebooted Friday The 13th scribes Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. If those names sound familiar, its because the pair was recently hired to script the live-action Aladdin prequel Genie.

Though initially cancelled after the first season, Baywatch found huge success in overseas, and was revived. The series starred David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Yasmin Bleeth, Carmen Electra, and David Chokachi.

Those close to the project say that the film will be in the same vein of 21 Jump Street, and will center “on a by-the-book and very serious lifeguard (Johnson) who is forced to team up with a young rule-flouting hothead in order to save their beach from environmental destruction at the hands of an oil tycoon.” The studio is aimming for a 2016 start date. No release date has been announced.

Gordon is perhaps best known for directing the original Horrible Bosses, which was hilarious. But he followed that up with Identity Thief, which was widely panned by critics. He was also behind the King of Kong, the arcade documentary that revealed the world of die-hard gamers competing to break world records on classic arcade games. Gordon is also known for the small screen having directed episodes for Community, Parks and Recreation, The Office, Modern Family, and more.

[Source: THR]