S.W.A.T.: Exiles kicks off after a high-profile mission goes disastrously wrong, forcing a retired Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr. (played by Shemar Moore) back into action. This time, he’s tasked with leading an experimental new unit made up of young, untested officers — setting the stage for a high-stakes clash of generations as Hondo struggles to unite his recruits into a cohesive SWAT team capable of protecting Los Angeles.
Sony Pictures Television has officially begun production on the new 10-episode spinoff, which reunites Moore with the same creative team behind CBS’s hit action drama. A first-look photo of the cast, published by Variety, offers a glimpse of the next generation of tactical heroes as cameras roll in Los Angeles.
What you need to know
- Lead return: Shemar Moore reprises his signature role of Hondo and will anchor the series.
- Legacy guest stars: Jay Harrington (Sergeant David “Deacon” Kay) and Patrick St. Esprit (Commander Robert Hicks) are set to appear in the premiere episode.
- New team: Series regulars joining Moore include Lucy Barrett, Adain Bradley, Zyra Gorecki, Freddy Miyares, and Ronen Rubinstein.
- Where & who: Filming is underway in Los Angeles with much of the original S.W.A.T. crew; Jason Ning is the showrunner, and the project is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Original Film.
- Platform TBD: Sony will shop the series to buyers — it has no announced network or streamer yet and may land on Netflix, CB,S or another home.
Creative team and production notes
Jason Ning (known for work on Lucifer) serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, James Scura and Moore himself. Sony is keeping much of the original series’ crew to preserve the look and action style while leaning into a grittier, character-driven tone. The studio plans to present the series at MIPCOM in Cannes as it seeks distribution partners.
The original S.W.A.T. was a major ratings and streaming property globally; this spinoff is an effort to extend that audience while refreshing the franchise with younger leads and a more modern generational conflict at its core. Because Sony has not yet named a domestic or international partner, where fans will watch the series remains unclear — but industry watchers expect clarity in the coming weeks after market screenings and meetings.
