Fox has greenlit the Hawaii lifeguard drama “Rescue: HI-Surf” from John Wells Productions (JWP) Warner Bros. Television for next season. The logline: From prolific, award-winning executive producer John Wells (Shameless, The West Wing, ER) and executive producer/writer Matt Kester (“Animal Kingdom”, “Outsiders”), “Rescue: HI-Surf,” is an action-packed drama that follows the personal and professional lives of the heavy-water lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu—the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world. Each episode will feature these dedicated, heroic, and adrenaline-seeking first-responders saving lives in the difficult and often life-threatening conditions of Hawaii’s Seven Mile Miracle.
“Rescue: HI-Surf brings an edge-of-your-seat style to the North Shore of Hawaii, where lifeguards and surfers collide with visceral rescues, great character drama and all-around fun,” said Michael Thorn, President of Scripted Programming, FOX Entertainment. “This new franchise is pure beachfront property for FOX, especially with the powerful auspices of John, Matt and our incredible partners at Warner Bros.”
“Matt and I couldn’t be happier to partner with FOX on this exciting opportunity to bring the best lifeguards in the world to the attention of television audiences,” said Wells.
“I’ve lived on the North Shore of O‘ahu for most of my life, and these are our heroes, the most extraordinary extreme athletes anywhere,” said Kester.
“Warner Bros. Television has been riding a creative wave with John Wells for many years, and Rescue: HI-Surf is another thrilling project that will capture the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere,” said Channing Dungey, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group. “We’re excited to partner with John, Matt Kester and FOX to tell the stories of heavy-water lifeguards in a way that has not been seen before. I can’t wait for everyone to experience this thrilling new franchise.”
Rescue: HI-Surf will be co-produced by Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment. Matt Kester serves as showrunner and executive producer. John Wells will executive produce through John Wells Productions, and JWP’s Erin Jontow also serves as an executive producer.
Fix’s s pick-up of Rescue: HI-Surf follows last week’s order of the all-new game show Snake Oil, hosted and produced by Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated comedian David Spade (SNL, Just Shoot Me) and executive-produced by Emmy nominee Will Arnett (LEGO Masters, Arrested Development), and the straight-to-series order of the medical procedural drama Doc, based on the globally acclaimed Italian series, Doc — Nelle tue mani, which will be co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and FOX Entertainment. FOX recently renewed two of the network’s hit dramas, Accused and Alert: Missing Persons Unit, both of which are co-productions of Sony Pictures Television and FOX Entertainment. The hit drama The Cleaning Lady, a Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment co-production, was recently renewed for a third season. FOX-owned animated series Krapopolis from Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty, Community) and Grimsburg with Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Top Gun: Maverick) will also debut next season. Additional new and returning series will be announced soon.