S.W.A.T. may have ended on CBS, but Shemar Moore's time playing Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson isn't over just yet.
As the hit drama wound down on CBS after eight years on the air, fans couldn't stop hoping for the chance to see Hondo on their TV screens once again. Well, their wishes came true, as Variety announced shocking news about Shemar's future on the small screen on May 18. According to the network, a spinoff called S.W.A.T. Exiles got greenlit for 10 episodes at Sony Pictures Television. What's more, Shemar will step back in front of the camera and reprise his role as Hondo when the show films in the summer of 2025.
Shortly after the news broke, Shemar went on Instagram to share a lengthy message about his future with the TV franchise.
"To all my homies, fans and babygirls — everybody out there around the world who has supported us for eight years," he stated in a video snippet. "First of all, thank you. We couldn't have done this without you. I know the sad news is we got cancelled. But the good news is, we don't stop fighting. And guess what happens when you don't stop fighting? We won! S.W.A.T. ain't going nowhere, Hondo ain't going nowhere. There's a new version of S.W.A.T. coming your way."
When fans learned the Criminal Minds alum would be coming back to the world of S.W.A.T. after all, they couldn't stop cheering in the comments.
"Omg this is wonderful news 😍🎉. Congratulations Shemar 👏👏❤️," one person exclaimed in the comments. "I am happy to hear this good news and long live Swat, this awesome!!! @shemarfmoore," another declared. "One door closes, and another one opens! Congrats! 🔥🔥🔥 Best News Ever 💛💛💛 Let's Go!" a different follower added.
While it's not clear which network will pick up S.W.A.T. Exiles, this is definitely news we weren't expecting to hear! And as People shared from an official press release, the premise of the show sees Hondo becoming the leader of a new S.W.A.T. unit after a derailed high-profile mission. The group, made up of recruits without much experience in the field, will have to deal with a number of dividing issues as Hondo "turns a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is."
"My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable," Shemar shared in an official statement. "We entertained the world, defied the odds, came back from the dead twice, and continued to woo fans and families worldwide ... I will keep the franchise, thrill ride action, heartfelt drama, and storytelling of S.W.A.T. alive. WE DON'T LOSE!!!! ROLL SWAT!!!"
Congrats!
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
