S.W.A.T. has been picked up for a spinoff after multiple cancellations — and days after CBS aired the show’s series finale — but which cast members are returning for the new iteration?
Sony announced on Sunday, May 18, that a new spinoff series starring Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson has been picked up. Sony Pictures Television will produce and distribute S.W.A.T. Exiles globally with development currently underway and production scheduled to start in Los Angeles this summer.
According to the official press release, the 10-episode series picks up after “a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits.” Moore’s character must “bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.”
Moore, 55, reflected on the decision to reprise his role, which comes two days after CBS aired the S.W.A.T. series finale.
“My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable. We entertained the world, defied the odds, came back from the dead twice, and continued to woo fans and families worldwide,” the actor said. “I am excited for this next generation and iteration of S.W.A.T. with Sony. Katherine Pope, Neal H. Moritz, Jason Ning, and I will keep the franchise, thrill ride action, heartfelt drama, and storytelling of S.W.A.T. alive. WE DON’T LOSE!!!! ROLL SWAT!!!.”
Based on the 1975 TV show and 2003 film adaptation of the same name, S.W.A.T. centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. The CBS series premiered in 2017 and aired six seasons before it was picked up for a seventh and final run. CBS ultimately reversed that decision and S.W.A.T. returned for season 8. But the celebration didn’t last long — the network canceled the show for a second time in March.
The last season of S.W.A.T. also starred Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj, but there’s no word yet on who could return for the spinoff.
Before news of S.W.A.T. Exiles broke, Ilonzeh spoke with Us Weekly about attempts to revive the series.
“We are crossing our fingers. So there is a particular discussion being had. I hope I can say [soon] that we really did it. We rallied for a third time,” she shared in April. “But we’re making noise. They do see it — producers and streamers that are interested — they are like, ‘OK, this is something.’ So if we can plug and play, we’re all geared up to go. We don’t want this ride to be over.”
Despite fighting for S.W.A.T. to get a new home, it would be the show’s last battle to stay on the air.
“I was just talking to [my costar] Shemar [Moore] yesterday and he was like, ‘If we do this for a third time — whenever we do get canceled again — I will be OK with it. I’m not fighting for a fourth [time] because we really did it and we end on that,'” she noted. “We will end on the fight and the win and relish in all of this and squeeze the life out of it. We will know that we did it, we did our job and we can walk away happy campers.”
