S.W.A.T. receiving a derivative after a number of cancellations ought to have been excellent news, however why has the choice — and particularly Shemar Moore — confronted backlash for it?
The procedural confronted its fair proportion of battles to stay on the air because it premiered in 2017. Six seasons have been put out on CBS earlier than S.W.A.T. was picked up for a seventh and ultimate season. CBS in the end reversed that call and S.W.A.T. returned for season 8. However the celebration didn't final lengthy — the community canceled the present for a second time in March 2025.
S.W.A.T seemingly got here to an finish two months later when the sequence finale aired on CBS. Days later, Sony Photos Tv picked up a derivative titled S.W.A.T. Exiles which is ready to star Moore and a brand new SWAT unit.
The choice to revamp the solid didn't sit effectively with viewers who tuned in week after week due to their favourite characters. Moore, nonetheless, defended the choice to solely hold his character Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.
“No one likes change. I perceive that. I get it one hundred pc. However with out change, you possibly can't develop. You may't win with out taking your lumps,” Moore defined in an Instagram video that very same month. “It ain't simple making it within the recreation of Hollywood. It ain't. TV exhibits don't final eight years anymore. The sport has modified. However S.W.A.T. Exiles, child! S.W.A.T. Exiles. Larger, bolder. S.W.A.T. on steroids.”
Moore in contrast the inventive shakeup to taking part in soccer.
“I'm not saying I'm Tom Brady, however I'm the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That's not boastful. That's not ego. It's a reality. I'm the quarterback. I'm Shemar Moore a.okay.a Hondo,” he continued. “However I had a squad. A powerful squad. A household. A group. And I'd be remiss If I didn't say out loud to the world and to them — as a result of I do know they're watching this — I really like you. I respect you. I admire you.”
Regardless of the controversy, Moore remained hopeful about S.W.A.T. Exiles.
“I'm excited that S.W.A.T. will get to maintain taking part in ball. I'm excited that the crew will get to place meals on their desk and cash of their accounts, and go to soccer observe and put their children by way of the appropriate faculties. Saving jobs, working right here in L.A., retaining Hollywood in L.A. It is a massive deal,” he continued on Tuesday. “Yeah, a bit of bit bittersweet in some methods — however man, on the finish of the day, we bought to be so proud. We bought to be so proud as a result of we did the rattling factor. The world took discover. And the trade took discover.”
Moore concluded: “Reveals get cancelled on a regular basis, however S.W.A.T. simply received't die as a result of y'all love S.W.A.T. You all love that loopy motion. You're keen on the tales. You're keen on the brotherhood, the sisterhood, all of that. That's who we're. That's who S.W.A.T. is. Thrill experience with coronary heart. So, on at the present time, we rejoice, however we pay homage to what bought us there and to the folks that bought us there, and I'll always remember. At all times admire, and at all times present love.”
Hold scrolling for a breakdown of the drama:
The Key Gamers
Primarily based on the 1975 TV present and 2003 movie adaptation of the identical identify, S.W.A.T. centered across the Los Angeles Police Division. Moore has led the sequence because it premiered on CBS in 2017 however the remainder of the solid has advanced and adjusted through the years.
The final season of S.W.A.T., which wrapped onscreen two days earlier than the spinoff was introduced, additionally starred Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj.
Regardless of everybody's efforts to convey the present again, Moore was the one one introduced as a fundamental solid member within the upcoming spinoff. S.W.A.T. Exiles will decide up after “a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel ‘Hondo' Harrelson is pulled out of compelled retirement to steer a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable younger recruits.” Moore's character should “bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and switch a squad of outsiders right into a group able to defending town and saving this system that made him who he's.”
The Gist
Moore initially reacted to the 10-episode continuation of S.W.A.T., saying in a press release, “My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable. We entertained the world, defied the chances, got here again from the lifeless twice, and continued to woo followers and households worldwide.”
He continued: “I'm excited for this subsequent era and iteration of S.W.A.T. with Sony. Katherine Pope, Neal H. Moritz, Jason Ning, and I'll hold the franchise, thrill experience motion, heartfelt drama, and storytelling of S.W.A.T. alive. WE DON'T LOSE!!!! ROLL SWAT!!!”
Social media customers, nonetheless, identified that solely Pepaj acknowledged Moore's video concerning the information. Everybody else shared behind-the-scenes photographs whereas celebrating the S.W.A.T sequence finale at CBS. Since then, it has been largely silent from the remainder of the solid as Moore celebrated his new challenge.
Lim broke his silence later that month, writing by way of Instagram, “I'd be mendacity if I stated the rollout of the brand new spinoff didn't sting. It was powerful to see it introduced simply two days after our finale — with no point out of the solid who helped construct S.W.A.T. from day one. After 8 unimaginable seasons, it felt like we have been brushed apart when there may've been a second of reflection and recognition — for the individuals who constructed this present, and for the affect it had on so many.”
He continued: “I've seen the feedback, the messages, the assist — and it really means quite a bit. I could not know what the long run holds for Tan, however I couldn't be extra happy with what we created collectively — our solid, writers, producers, crew … our SWAT household. No model of this story can take that away. Thanks for driving with us. At all times. Roll SWAT. 🖤.”
Why It's a Massive Deal
Moore's feedback part was flooded with questions on why nobody else was introduced for the spinoff. Moore broke his silence by defending the choice, saying, “That's my household for all times, OK? However similar to in sports activities, Tom Brady could be the quarterback, however individuals get traded. Tight ends get traded, the working again will get traded, the receivers get traded.”
In response to Moore, the precedence was bringing S.W.A.T. again — with him on the helm after he originated the sequence. “However the group retains on pushing with their quarterback, and I'm that man,” he stated. “So proud, so grateful. I'm not going to apologize for nothing. Busted my ass for 31 years to do what I do, and I'm excited concerning the future.”
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What Folks Are Saying
S.W.A.T. followers have been fast to level out within the feedback part of Moore's publish that the remainder of the solid from the CBS sequence made the present what it was. Most of Moore's costars have but to publicly acknowledge him increasing the S.W.A.T universe solo.
Harrington, in the meantime, broke his silence in June 2025, telling TVLine, “[I found out about S.W.A.T Exiles] the day earlier than. Shemar reached out to all of us to say, ‘That is what's occurring. ‘ There's speak that they'll attain out to us about stuff. He needed to be the one to inform us, and say ‘Your reps will discover out shortly.' That's after I informed my reps, they usually had no thought.”
Harrington clarified he wasn't upset with Moore for signing onto the present solo, including, “Look, I'll be very clear. I've been on this enterprise for a very long time. You don't get ‘owed' issues simply since you put in your time. If that's the route they're going to go, I want it success. It's only a high quality line between ‘owed' and ‘simply let me know.' For the studio simply to say, ‘Hey, that is what we're pondering. It's a brand new thought, however that is the route we gotta go, and sadly the way in which it's structured, we wish to make a clear break, begin recent.'”
Earlier than information of S.W.A.T. Exiles broke, Ilonzeh spoke with Us Weekly about their makes an attempt as a gaggle to revive the sequence.
“We're crossing our fingers. So there's a explicit dialogue being had. I hope I can say [soon] that we actually did it. We rallied for a 3rd time,” she shared in April 2025 whereas reflecting on her time taking part in Gamble. “However we're making noise. They do see it — producers and streamers which are — they're like, ‘OK, that is one thing.' So if we are able to plug and play, we're all geared as much as go. We don't need this experience to be over.”
Ilonzeh acknowledged that if S.W.A.T. was introduced again once more, it might be the present's final battle to remain on the air.
“I used to be simply speaking to [my costar] Shemar [Moore] yesterday and he was like, ‘If we do that for a 3rd time — each time we do get canceled once more — I will probably be OK with it. I'm not combating for a fourth [time] as a result of we actually did it and we finish on that,'” she famous. “We'll finish on the combat and the win and relish in all of this and squeeze the life out of it. We'll know that we did it, we did our job and we are able to stroll away glad campers.”
What's Subsequent
Sony Photos Tv picked up S.W.A.T. Exiles for a 10-episode order however there isn't a official premiere deliberate but. In response to the press launch, Sony is “specializing in discovering the appropriate properties and companions for these new tales to achieve the passionate S.W.A.T. fanbase and appeal to new viewers.” Growth is at present underway and manufacturing is scheduled to start in summer season 2025 in Los Angeles and as soon as the spinoff is filmed, it will likely be shopped round.
Harrington and St. Esprit will now reprise their roles within the pilot.
