Lim, who plays Victor Tan, reacted to the spinoff news on Instagram. In a lengthy post, which is included below, Lim confessed that Hondo’s spinoff’s surprise rollout did “sting”, underlining the lack of a mention for the original cast. The actor, who was a part of S.W.A.T. from its very first episode, went on to thank fans for their messages of support and said that he doesn’t know what the future might hold.
What The S.W.A.T. Spinoff Means For The Show’s Future
It Reportedly Came Together Very Quickly
Subsequent reporting about how the S.W.A.T. spinoff came together revealed that it moved forward with surprising quickness. The speed with which the project was announced, just hours after the finale, was because Sony Pictures Television wanted S.W.A.T. Exiles to be ready to present for the annual LA Screenings, which is where Sony TV was hoping to highlight the new show to international and domestic buyers. But the speed also played a part in why former cast members were not notified about the spinoff, according to a report from Deadline.
When CBS canceled S.W.A.T for the third time, Sony and others weren’t finished with it. S.W.A.T. season 9 would have been better than a spinoff.
Original series creator Shawn Ryan is not involved with the project at this stage, due to being under an exclusive deal with Netflix, though he reacted positively to the news on social media. Former S.W.A.T. cast members could reprise their roles, though that hasn’t yet been decided. The news, and the way it broke, has sparked a strong reaction online.
Our Take On The S.W.A.T. News
It’s The Latest In A Trend
As a cost-cutting measure, studios and networks have favored breaking up popular shows into spinoffs with new casts rather than continuing relatively more expensive long-running dramas and comedies. Blue Bloods is becoming Boston Blue, with a largely new cast led by the returning Donnie Wahlberg, so the S.W.A.T. move is not entirely surprising. But the way it was announced, plus Moore’s reaction, has garnered a few headlines.
