'Baywatch' to become big screen comedy

Paramount is to turn hit TV show Baywatch into a big screen comedy, reports Variety.

The studio has hired Jeremy Garelick to write and make his directorial debut on the project. Garelick, who did uncredited work on The Hangover, was initially asked to rewrite the action-centric Baywatch script but wanted to take the movie in a comedic direction.

"It felt like the template to do a movie that was similar to Stripes and Police Academy, the comedies I loved growing up," Garelick said.

"Rather than trying to pitch the tone, I figured it would be easier to write the first act to convey who these characters were."

Garelick's story centres on two out-of-shape lifeguard hopefuls attempting to keep up with their fitter colleagues.

The original Baywatch series, which starred David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, ran from 1989 to 1999 and spawned spinoff series Baywatch Nights and 2003 reunion film Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.