Despite only announcing Shemar Moore as a returning cast member, it turns out the S.W.A.T spinoff could feature more surprise appearances from fan-favorite characters.
Sony Pictures TV President Katherine Pope weighed in on the possibility earlier this month after S.W.A.T Exiles was announced, telling Variety, “There is a clear world that we’re exploring here. We’re still putting it all together, but for sure, I think you can expect some of your favorites to be a part of it in some way.”
Pope noted that the shows now exist in their own “universe” while Exiles is “a bit of a take on the culture generation clash of Gen X versus Gen Z.”
“Where Hondo is all about duty, hierarchy and chain of command, the Gen Zers are a little more like, ‘I might need to take a mental health day. I want to talk about it. I want to understand it,’” Pope teased about the upcoming series. “It’s kind of our take on Top Gun Maverick.”
Pope continued: “How do we build bridges around not just generational divides, but all forms of divide? There’s a lot of division going on in our world. If we just took some time to listen and to try and be part of a team, and what that really means, it would probably be better for all of us.”
S.W.A.T. premiered in 2017 and aired for six seasons before CBS planned to end its run with season 7. The network ultimately reversed that decision and S.W.A.T. returned for two more seasons, but CBS officially canceled the series while season 8 was airing in March 2025.
Earlier this month, S.W.A.T.‘s series finale aired and just two days later Sony Pictures Television announced a spinoff starring Moore, 55, and a new cast. The decision received backlash since Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj also took part in efforts to revive the series.
Moore stood by the decision, saying in an Instagram video, “Nobody likes change. I understand that. I get it 100 percent. But without change, you can’t grow. You can’t win without taking your lumps. It ain’t easy making it in the game of Hollywood. It ain’t. TV shows don’t last eight years anymore. The game has changed. But S.W.A.T. Exiles, baby! S.W.A.T. Exiles. Bigger, bolder. S.W.A.T. on steroids.”
He continued: “I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady, but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That’s not arrogant. That’s not ego. It’s a fact. I’m the quarterback. I’m Shemar Moore a.k.a Hondo. But I had a squad. A strong squad. A family. A team. And I would be remiss If I didn’t say out loud to the world and to them — because I know they’re watching this — I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you.”
Lim, 41, who has been with the show since season 1, was the first cast member to officially break his silence on the drama.
“I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. 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,” he wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, May 28. “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.”
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