Original S.W.A.T. Cast Reunion Possible in ‘S.W.A.T. Exiles’

Just when fans were making peace with the end of S.W.A.T., CBS dropped a curveball—again. After an unexpected rollercoaster of renewals, cancellations, and farewells, the popular action drama took one final bow with its Season 8 finale in May 2025.

Before the dust could settle, a spinoff series was announced. And at the center of it all? Shemar Moore, the show’s magnetic lead, stepped into the spotlight once again—this time, alone.

A Goodbye That Didn’t Stick

S.W.A.T. has always had a complicated relationship with cancellation. First axed in 2023 after six strong seasons, it was Shemar Moore himself who helped orchestrate the show’s revival for a seventh.

The network eventually gave it another chance, only to cut the cord again ahead of the 2026 broadcast schedule. This final cancellation seemed definitive.

CBS dropped several shows at once—including FBI: Most Wanted—and S.W.A.T. was among the casualties. Fans braced for closure. The cast moved on. The finale aired.

Then, without warning, Moore announced something new: S.W.A.T. Exiles.

The new series, still in early development, follows Moore’s iconic character, Sergeant II Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr., as he comes out of retirement to train a fresh class of SWAT recruits.

One problem—he never actually retired in the Season 8 finale. The storyline confused fans and left a sour taste for many who had just said their goodbyes.

The Missing Faces—and the Fallout

But confusion quickly gave way to controversy. When news of the spinoff broke, it became clear that none of the original cast members—those who had carried the show alongside Moore—were slated to return. Not Alex Russell. Not Kenny Johnson.

Not Jay Harrington. The decision to move forward without them sparked backlash from fans, and even from the cast themselves.

David Lim, who portrayed Officer Victor Tan, was the first to break the silence. While he didn’t attack the decision outright, his message hinted at disappointment. “Nothing could blemish the memory of the original show,” he wrote, letting fans read between the lines.

Jay Harrington, a longtime presence as Sergeant David “Deacon” Kay, also spoke out. His comments were measured, but the sense of exclusion was hard to ignore. The rest of the Season 8 ensemble has, so far, remained publicly quiet—but the absence is telling.

As the controversy grew, Moore found himself under fire. For many fans, it felt like betrayal—a move that sidelined the very people who helped shape the show’s identity. And yet, Moore forged ahead.

Sony Steps In: “There Is a S.W.A.T. Family”

While CBS appears uninterested in hosting the spinoff, Sony—the studio behind both S.W.A.T. and its new iteration—is working hard to keep the peace.

“There is a S.W.A.T. family and that family is important,” the chairman of Sony Pictures Television told Deadline. “We would love to have other family members involved in some way, whether it’s all of them all of the time, some of them some of the time, or something in between.”

A second Sony executive echoed that sentiment last month, saying that while the spinoff’s early blueprint didn’t include familiar faces, the door is far from closed. In other words: the show could evolve.

Right now, the biggest question isn’t just who’ll appear—but where. With CBS stepping away, S.W.A.T. Exiles is in need of a streaming or cable partner. Talks are ongoing, but for the moment, the future home of the show remains uncertain.

One Franchise, Two Realities

There’s no denying that Shemar Moore has carried this franchise with undeniable charisma. From soap opera fame to primetime dominance in Criminal Minds and S.W.A.T., he’s cultivated a fanbase that shows up. But the shift from ensemble-driven storytelling to a solo-led spinoff feels jarring for longtime viewers.

Whether S.W.A.T. Exiles can capture the same spark—or heal the growing fracture between Moore, the fans, and his former cast—is a story still unfolding.

Until then, the badge may be back, but the brotherhood behind it? That’s still on hold.

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