The original police procedural was canceled three times and revived twice over the course of its eight-season run on CBS.
After three cancellations and two revivals, S.W.A.T. has again been rescued from imminent danger.
The high-intensity police procedural is officially getting a spinoff just days after the eighth and final season of the anchor series aired its concluding episode. Sony Pictures Television announced on Sunday it is developing S.W.A.T. Exiles, with original S.W.A.T. star Shemar Moore reprising his role as LAPD Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.
The 10-episode series is set to commence production in Los Angeles this summer, with Lucifer and The Expanse writer-producer Jason Ning tapped to serve as showrunner.
The logline for S.W.A.T. Exiles explains that the spinoff picks up on Hondo “after a high-profile mission goes sideways,” forcing him out of retirement “to lead a last-chance experimental S.W.A.T. unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo 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.”
“My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable,” Moore said in a statement accompanying the S.W.A.T. Exiles announcement. “We entertained the world, defied the odds, came back from the dead twice, and continued to woo fans and families worldwide. I am excited for this next generation and iteration of S.W.A.T.“
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In collaboration with Ning, producer Neal H. Moritz, and Sony Pictures Television Studios President Katherine Pope, Moore promised to “keep the franchise, thrill ride action, heartfelt drama, and storytelling of S.W.A.T. alive. WE DON’T LOSE!!!! ROLL SWAT!!!”
Pope added, “We couldn’t be more excited to bring the next chapter of S.W.A.T. to life — both for our incredibly dedicated fans of the original franchise and for a new generation of viewers… This team’s commitment to the global fanbase, to our beloved crew, and to our city runs deep!”
CBS announced in March that S.W.A.T. was getting the axe once and for all after 163 episodes. Showrunner and executive producer Andrew Dettmann called the decision “heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of.” Moore expressed his sorrow more bluntly following the original series cancellation in May 2023.
“Make some f—ing noise and let ’em know that canceling S.W.A.T. is a f—ing mistake,” he told fans.
Moore had even more to say about the spinoff in a video shared jointly to his and several Sony-affiliated Instagram accounts on Sunday.
“It’s a great day,” Moore exclaimed, dedicating the video to “all my homes, fans, and baby girls.” Moore explained that when you “don’t stop fighting, guess what happens? We won. S.W.A.T. ain’t going nowhere.”
