Shemar Moore’s S.W.A.T. Just Paused Production

The CBS drama S.W.A.T. has once more paused production due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. After briefly resuming filming following earlier interruptions caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires, the team faced another setback when the Hughes Fire erupted near Santa Clarita, according to Deadline.

SWAT – Details About The Fire

The Hughes Fire started on January 22 near Castaic Lake, which is close to the show’s major filming location. This forced production to cease on Wednesday and Thursday as the fire spread, resulting in the evacuation of nearly 30,000 people and the closing of major roads.

By Saturday morning, the fire had burned around 10,500 acres and was estimated to be 87% contained. While it is unknown whether filming has restarted, the containment progress indicates that production may begin soon.

Wildfires have devastated the Los Angeles region since early January, forcing thousands of people to relocate and destroying a large number of buildings, including homes, businesses, and schools.

Unfortunately, almost thirty people have died. Just the Palisades and Eaton fires have burned 23,500 acres and 14,000 acres, respectively, and as of Saturday, they were 81% and 95% contained.

Numerous people’s lives have been impacted by the destruction, including famous people who have lost homes or know others who have perished.

What’s Next For S.W.A.T.?

Despite production delays, S.W.A.T. is set to return with its mid-season premiere on Friday, January 31. The episode, titled “Open Season,” is directed by series star Jay Harrington and marks a milestone as the show’s 150th episode.

In this installment, Hondo learns of a $1 million bounty placed on his head, forcing 20-Squad to race against time to uncover a vengeful enemy from his past. Meanwhile, tension arises between Deacon and Tan over changes at S.W.A.T. Academy.

In addition to the mid-season premiere, the show will shift to a new time slot, airing at 10 p.m. ET on Fridays. This change replaces Blue Bloods in its longstanding slot, with NCIS: Sydney premiering its second season at 8 p.m. ET starting February 7. Fire Country will remain in its 9 p.m. ET position.

Although the production hiatus has raised concerns about potential disruptions to the season, it is unlikely to impact the planned schedule. Season 8 is expected to consist of 22 episodes, with episode 9 serving as the mid-season premiere.

Depending on how many episodes remain to be filmed, there might be adjustments, but fans can still anticipate a full season.

Exploring Upcoming Storylines

The next episodes promise high-stakes drama as the revenge arc targeting Hondo continues to unfold. While the storyline focuses on his adversary, it may also place other team members in jeopardy.

Additionally, a subplot involving disagreements between Deacon and Tan about the future of S.W.A.T. Academy will provide a closer look at their evolving dynamic.

As of now, it’s unclear which episode was being filmed when production halted. However, given the show’s pace, any delays are unlikely to significantly impact its release schedule. Fans can catch up on previous episodes of S.W.A.T. by streaming them on Paramount+.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with S.W.A.T. right now. Come back here often for all S.W.A.T. spoilers, news, and updates.