David Hasslehoff has joined the 'Baywatch' movie.

David Hasselhoff

David Hasselhoff

Hasslehoff starred in the long-running TV drama series as buff lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and has now been persuaded by bosses to whip out his skimpy red shorts and reprise his role for the forthcoming blockbuster.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who will play a veteran lifeguard in the flick, announced the news on his Instagram last night (02.03.16) when he uploaded a short clip of him video messaging the legendary actor on his phone.

He accompanied the snippet with the caption: "I WAS BORN READY!" Pleasure to officially welcome the original #BAYWATCH gansta himself David Hasselhoff to our movie! #BAYWATCH is the most successful TV show of all time and from the day we announced we were turning it into a movie, "The Hoff" has been our greatest supporter.

"Especially once he knew our RATED R movie was going to be a combination of AVENGERS meets ANCHORMAN....Hoff's a cool dude who's down to have fun and here's the best part..

"He's been training his ass off and gotten in the best shape he's been in in years! (cue slo-mo running and glistening chest hair.. wait, why the f*ck am I even thinking about Hoff's chest hair!?) World get ready.. (sic)."

But, although Hasselhoff has decided to reprise his role, Pamela Anderson, who played blonde bombshell lifeguard C.J. Parker from 1989 to 2001, may need a little more persuasion if she's going to slip into her red swimsuit again.

The remake, which will also star Zac Efron, Kelly Rohrbach and Priyanka Chopra, will hit cinemas early next year.