Get Pumped For Two New Series About The Early Days Of Muscle Beach

Muscle Beach is about to have its next big moment in the spotlight. In the past week, two new TV series were announced that will harken back to the birth of bodybuilding in Venice Beach.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, who catapulted to stardom in the 1970s as an icon of competitive bodybuilding—and who famously lavished in the sun-soaked and free-spirited California lifestyle—will produce Pump with CBS Television Studios. Inspired by the early days of growing this sport into the multi-billion dollar industry that it is today, the eight-episode drama is set in Venice Beach 1973 as a small group of bodybuilders put Gold's Gym on the map, and ignite the physique-sculpting craze.

Arnold Schwarzenegger at Gold's Gym in a scene from the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron.

Joining Schwarzenegger on the project is Pump creator Michael Konyves and producers Randall Emmett and George Furla, CEOs of Emmett/Furla/Oasis, and Eric Tannenbaum, CEO of The Tannenbaum Company, according to Deadline who first reported the news. It was originally developed at Showtime in 2013 and then moved to Hulu where it was also held up before landing with CBS Television Studios. No network is attached to the series yet, but Schwarzenegger's agency CAA is set to sell the domestic rights. 

"I knew from our first brainstorming session that Pump would be a hit," Schwarzenegger said in the announcement. "The '70s were such a colorful, transformational time, for me and for our entire country. I look forward to bringing that color to people's living rooms with the fantastic, deep characters and the multilayered storylines of Pump. I feel so passionate about this project because today it's easy to take our gyms and culture of fitness for granted, but it all started with this wild group of bodybuilders as a tiny subculture in a little dungeon gym in Venice Beach. I can't wait to get to work with our great team."

For a glimpse into Schwarzenegger's formative years in Venice (and perhaps a tease to the antics and competitive camaraderie that he may reference in Pump), queue up Pumping Iron on Netflix. The 1977 documentary introduces a brash and savvy young Schwarzenegger on a path to win his sixth Mr. Olympia title and an eager, up-and-coming Lou Ferrigno hoping to unseat the champ. 

Two days following the announcement, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, his co-founder Dany Garcia and Beau Flynn said they too are developing a series about the first bodybuilders of Venice Beach. It's for USA Network titled Muscle Beach.

The Rock announced new series Muscle Beach on Instagram.

The hourlong scripted drama is also set in the legendary Gold's Gym, this time in the '80s.  According to an Instagram announcement from Johnson, the series explores the body-obsessed fitness movement and the many temptations of Los Angeles that will expose the dark side of chasing dreams.

"As a kid growing up in the 80's it's exciting to produce a series that stays true to our brand and dig deep into an iconic time in bodybuilding and unique Venice Beach culture - the 80's."