A little over a year ago, Sony Pictures Television announced that we were getting a S.W.A.T. spinoff with Shemar Moore, and that was all they knew.
S.W.A.T. Exiles was going to film even though no one picked it up to series. Well, today, four months after it finished shooting its ten-episode first season, someone decided to give it a home.
Hondo and his team are moving to Starz on September 25th, according to Deadline.
In this spin-off of the hit series, after a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.
S.W.A.T. aired for eight seasons on CBS, and the network tried to cancel it twice before it took the third time.
Shemar Moore and Vivaca A. Fox are sharing screen time on The Young and the Restless for the first time in 30 years.
The press release says, “Malcolm Winters (Moore) and Dr. Stephanie Simmons’ (Fox) surprising return has shocking and lasting implications for the residents of Genoa City.”
Winters and Simmons briefly dated, so it will be interesting to see if they got back together again, and that is why they are going home.
While Moore, who just wrapped filming S.W.A.T. Exiles, has returned to the Soap Opera several times since he left as a full-time cast member in 2005, Fox has not been back since 1995.
The two returned to the set today to begin filming their scenes, and their multi-episode storyline will air in April.
In 2003, CBS cancelled S.W.A.T., only to pick it up a few days later for a final season. However, that final season did not turn out to be one because the network picked it up for another one.
Then it seemed like its luck had finally run out, as CBS cancelled the series and did not reverse its decision.
While CBS is still a no, two days after the series finale aired, Sony was not done with Shemar Moore. So today, they announced that they are giving Hondo his own spinoff, S.W.A.T. Exiles.
Katherine Pope, President, Sony Pictures Television Studios, said, “We couldn’t be more excited to bring the next chapter of S.W.A.T. to life – both for our incredibly dedicated fans of the original franchise and for a new generation of viewers. We’re grateful to our incredible partners Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Jason Ning and Shemar Moore for embarking on this journey with us. This team’s commitment to the global fanbase, to our beloved crew and to our city runs deep!”
S.W.A.T. Exiles is described as: After a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson [Moore] is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.
The 10-episode first season is expected to film this summer. Maybe by then, someone will have picked it up for air. As now, the series has no home.
S.W.A.T. got some news today that they have already gotten. The CBS police procedural was cancelled for a third time.
“It’s heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of,” S.W.A.T. showrunner Andrew Dettmann said. “They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can’t give them enough credit. I feel so privileged to have been a part of the S.W.A.T. family.”
CBS pulled the plug on the show, which stars Shemar Moore, in 2023. But after fan support, they announced it would be back for a seventh and final season. But at the end of that year, it was picked up for an eighth season, which we now know is its absolute final one. Or is it???
UPDATE: Shemar Moore made a video about the cancellation. To hear what he said, then click here!
Last year, CBS canceled S.W.A.T., but the fans fought to get it back. And they succeeded. A few days later, the network picked up the police procedural for a 7th and final season.
But nothing is really final until it is. Therefore, the little show that could, did. CBS renewed the series for an 8th season today.
“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.!,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our amazing writers and producers who keep the show relevant and action-packed. We’re very pleased to renew it again and incredibly grateful to our partners at SONY, CBS Studios and Shemar for working so closely with us to bring it back for next season.”
The show’s star, Shemar Moore, never gave up hope and he was right to do so. “S.W.A.T. IS BACK! BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I am so proud of this show and the people and variables it has taken to make this show what it is and has become,” said Moore, series star and executive producer. “I am so grateful to the fans around the world who have supported, watched, enjoyed and rooted for S.W.A.T.! It is entirely because of this support that S.W.A.T. will continue to shine! This is still a dream job for me … I love my S.W.A.T. crew, cast and writers and producers – we have made an incredible, fun, exciting, provocative and heartwarming show for the world to enjoy. Thank you to CBS and SONY for believing in S.W.A.T. and giving us this opportunity to shine!”
I love fairy tales with happy endings, and I am happy that S.W.A.T. is living happily but not ever after. Are you thrilled it is coming back?
