{"id":249106,"date":"2026-06-29T16:21:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/29\/s-w-a-t-spinoffs-future-is-revealed-premiere-date-announced-after-cast-absence-drama\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:21:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:21:51","slug":"s-w-a-t-spinoffs-future-is-revealed-premiere-date-announced-after-cast-absence-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/29\/s-w-a-t-spinoffs-future-is-revealed-premiere-date-announced-after-cast-absence-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018S.W.A.T.\u2019 Spinoff\u2019s Future Is Revealed, Premiere Date Announced After Cast Absence Drama"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A decision has finally been reached about the S.W.A.T.<\/em><\/a> spinoff after offscreen cast drama over exclusion.<\/p>\n

S.W.A.T. Exiles<\/em> will premiere September 25 on Starz after distributor Sony Pictures Television closed a deal for the U.S. rights<\/a>, according to Deadline<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The outlet noted that Sony Pictures TV is using a windowing strategy for S.W.A.T. Exiles<\/em> in the U.S. \u2014 with Starz getting the first window. The studio is reportedly in second-window conversations with Netflix after the original series started streaming there three years ago.<\/p>\n

S.W.A.T.<\/em>, which premiered on CBS in 2017, followed a police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team named Twenty Squad that operated in Los Angeles. The procedural faced its fair share of battles to remain on the air when CBS picked S.W.A.T.<\/em> up for a seventh and final season. The network ultimately reversed that decision due to strong ratings in addition to viewer demand and S.W.A.T.<\/em> returned for season 8.<\/a><\/p>\n

But the celebration didn\u2019t last long \u2014 the network canceled the show for a second time in March 2025. S.W.A.T seemingly came to an end two months later when the series finale aired on CBS. Days later, however, Sony Pictures Television picked up a spinoff titled S.W.A.T. Exiles which is set to star Shemar Moore, who publicly campaigned for the show\u2019s comeback, and a new SWAT unit.<\/p>\n

Viewers were surprised that Moore\u2019s character, Daniel \u201cHondo\u201d Harrelson, was initially the only one returning after the entire cast participated in efforts to bring S.W.A.T.<\/em> back. (Several alums were later confirmed to make appearances in season 1.)<\/p>\n

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Yosuke Koino \/ \u00a9CBS \/ Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moore, 56, stood by the decision, saying in a May 2025 Instagram video, \u201cNobody likes change. I understand that. I get it 100 percent. But without change, you can\u2019t grow. You can\u2019t win without taking your lumps. It ain\u2019t easy making it in the game of Hollywood. It ain\u2019t. TV shows don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cI\u2019m not saying I\u2019m Tom Brady, but I\u2019m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That\u2019s not arrogant. That\u2019s not ego. It\u2019s a fact. I\u2019m the quarterback. I\u2019m 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\u2019t say out loud to the world and to them \u2014 because I know they\u2019re watching this \u2014 I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you.\u201d<\/p>\n

David Lim<\/strong>, who had been with the show since season 1,<\/a> was the first cast member to officially break his silence on the drama.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn\u2019t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale \u2014 with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one,\u201d he wrote via Instagram that same month. \u201cAfter eight incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could\u2019ve been a moment of reflection and recognition \u2014 for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sony Pictures TV President Katherine Pope<\/strong> later weighed in on the possibility that many fan-favorite characters could make surprise appearances.<\/p>\n

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