Everything to know about the S.W.A.T. Exiles spinoff (and which original cast members are returning)

Like a hulking Jason Voorhees, S.W.A.T. rises again after being presumed dead.

Based on the 1975 series of the same name, S.W.A.T. debuted on CBS in 2017 with Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and The Shield creator Shawn Ryan behind the scenes. The action procedural was canceled after season 6, renewed for a seventh and final season, and then saved from cancellation again with a season 8 order, after which it was definitively canceled.

In classic S.W.A.T. fashion, however, it only took days for Sony Pictures Television to announce a spinoff was in the works called S.W.A.T. Exiles. Shemar Moore, whose Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr. leads the series, declared that he was “excited for this next generation and iteration of S.W.A.T.“

So, what does the next generation of S.W.A.T. look like? Read on for everything we know about the S.W.A.T. spinoff.

What is S.W.A.T. Exiles about?

Per the logline, the S.W.A.T. spinoff checks back in with Hondo after “a high-profile mission goes sideways.” This brings the steel-fisted enforcer out of retirement “to lead a last-chance experimental S.W.A.T. unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits.”

It continues, “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.”

Speaking with TVLine in June 2025, S.W.A.T.’s Jay Harrington, who played Sergeant David ‘Deacon’ Kay on all eight seasons, raised his eyebrows at the premise. “Throughout all these years, I got to meet and know so many law enforcement officers, and to get to that level of SWAT, you have to be pretty [qualified],” he said. “You don’t just ‘become’ SWAT. As they say, ‘you’re either SWAT or you’re not.'”

He added, “The new writing staff, they’ll have some challenges making stuff make sense.”

Who’s behind the scenes of S.W.A.T. Exiles?

Original executive producers Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty will return to oversee S.W.A.T. Exiles, as will Moore. Jason Ning, a veteran of series such as The Expanse and Lucifer, will serve as showrunner and executive producer.

The first episode will be directed by Kevin Tancharoen, whose credits include episodes of Teacup, The Book of Boba Fett, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and many more.

Are any S.W.A.T. cast members returning for the spinoff?

S.W.A.T. Exiles will star Moore, whose real-life advocacy for the franchise is as fierce as Hondo’s tactical skills. It simply wouldn’t be S.W.A.T. without him.

Harrington, another key player on S.W.A.T., is also slated to reprise his role alongside Patrick St. Esprit, who played Commander Robert Hicks. As of now, the pair is confirmed to appear in the spinoff’s premiere; it’s unclear if they’ll return for more episodes throughout the season.

Harrington spoke with TVLine about being caught off-guard by the news of a spinoff. “Because of the way things had happened over the years with [S.W.A.T.] being cancelled, coming back, I had the thought, ‘OK, we could come back,'” he told the outlet. “There’s a chance, you never say die, especially with the streaming world and such. My choices in my head were that, or it’s over. I did not have a spin-off on my bingo card, for sure.”

He wasn’t the only one. Following the announcement, David Lim, who played Victor Tan on all eight seasons, took to Instagram to say he felt “brushed aside.”

“I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting,” he wrote. “It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale — with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one. After eight incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition — for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.”

He added, “What made S.W.A.T. special wasn’t just the action, or one character. It was the squad. The bond. The camaraderie. The shared blood, sweat, tears, and laughs we gave to every episode.”

While Harrington has been announced as being part of the spinoff, Lim has not yet.

Who’s joining the S.W.A.T. spinoff cast?

New series regulars joining the S.W.A.T. universe include Lucy Barrett (Charmed), Adain Bradley (Warfare), Zyra Gorecki (La Brea), and Freddy Miyares (Grey’s Anatomy).

One of the more notable additions to the cast is Ronen Rubinstein, who played firefighter-paramedic T.K. Strand on five seasons of 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–2025).

How many episodes will there be of S.W.A.T. Exiles?

The first season of S.W.A.T. Exiles will unfold across 10 episodes that, per a press release, will aim to “deliver the same high-stakes drama and intense action sequences that fans have come to know and love.”

Is there a S.W.A.T. Exiles premiere date?

A premiere date for S.W.A.T. Exiles has yet to be announced as of this writing. Filming is slated to start in late September 2025. Based on the relatively quick turnaround of S.W.A.T. seasons, most of which contained over 20 episodes, it’s likely S.W.A.T. Exiles will debut sometime in 2026.

Where can I watch S.W.A.T.?

S.W.A.T. seasons 1-7 are currently available to stream on Netflix. S.W.A.T. season 8 is now streaming on Paramount+.