The series “Baywatch” premiered in 1989 and captured the essence of the pop culture of the era, with its one-piece swimsuits, sculpted bodies and a very distinctive aesthetic, reflecting the ideal of Californian beauty and lifestyle of that decade.
In 2017, the iconic series had a remake, but now in film form. Although it was an homage to the original series and its characters, the film had several changes that showed the changes in mentality that have occurred since then.
’90s ‘Baywatch’ series vs 2017 remake: all the changes
The original series had a lighter and more romantic tone, with simple stories and characters that fit the beauty stereotypes of the time. It focused on the physical appearance of the protagonists and the action that took place on the beach.
The new version, on the other hand, adopted a more comical and parodic tone. It even satirizes the clichés of the 1989 series and the action genre. In addition, it should be noted that its action scenes are more complex and the humor more adult.
The characters in the series—which ran from 1989 to 2001—were archetypal, with clearly defined roles: the leader, the womanizer, the ingénue, etc. while the 2017 version tried to give more complexity and development to the narrative arcs of each character. Their personal relationships and motivations were also explored in a deeper way.
Mitch Buchannon and Matt Brody characters: differences between the original and the remake version
The character of Mitch Buchannon has evolved over the years, going from the small screen to the movies. In the 90s production, actor David Hasselhoff was responsible for portraying him and became the most famous face of “Baywatch”.
Dwayne Johnson, for his part, gave a new look to the character in the film adaptation, contributing his charisma and experience in action films. Despite the differences between the two actors, the essence of the character is the same: a man dedicated to protecting the beach and leading his team.
On the other hand, both David Charvette and Zac Efron gave life to Matt Brody in their respective versions of ‘Baywatch’. In the series, Brody was a conqueror with legal problems – due to a false accusation of molestation – and in the film he is portrayed as a spoiled athlete.
Both the series and the film show us a young man who hits rock bottom but, after a moment of self-pity, finds a way to stay alive.
The 2017 film adds a character not seen in the ‘Baywatch’ series.
In the remake of ‘Baywatch’, Priyanka Chopra is revealed as a badass like never before. The actress, originally considered for the lifeguard role, ended up playing the film’s antagonist, a character originally written for a man.
Chopra thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play Victoria, a ruthless woman who doesn’t hesitate to take on Dwayne Johnson. In her own words, the best part of working on ‘Baywatch’ was being the bad guy.
In addition, the 2017 version had a special appearance by a famous Mexican actress: Belinda, who appears as a beautiful young woman in trouble.
Source: univision
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
