'S.W.A.T.' Makes a Well-Deserved Comeback in Fantastic First Spin-Off Images

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Published Feb 18, 2026, 2:39 PM EST

Britta DeVore is a Senior Author for Collider who has been known to dabble with Reality News as well.

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Hondo is officially back. Today, Sony Pictures Television has unveiled a batch of first-look images for its upcoming spin-off series S.W.A.T. Exiles, which will pick up the story of Shemar Moore’s leading character following last year’s abrupt cancellation of the eight-season-running procedural. S.W.A.T. has proved to be a franchise with staying power, having first burst onto the scene in 1975 with a film version that followed in 2003. The flagship series, which debuted on the network in 2017, was like a cat in the sense that it seemed for a while to have nine lives. The title was initially canned by CBS after its sixth season, but would eventually get picked up for what was dubbed the seventh and final season just days later. Down the line, the network reversed its decision and gave S.W.A.T. the go-ahead for an eighth season, which eventually marked the end of the line for the first responder-centered series.

After much heartache from the fandom and a push to get S.W.A.T. back on the air, the decision was made to move forward with a spin-off that would follow Moore’s Hondo as he took on a mentor position to a group of new recruits. At first, it seemed as though Moore was on the new journey by himself, with no other S.W.A.T. alums initially confirmed to be joining the next chapter. However, in the months since the title’s announcement, numerous members of the original call sheet, including Jay Harrington, David Lim and Patrick St. Esprit have been confirmed to reprise their roles as Sergeant David ‘Deacon’ Kay, Victor Tan, and Commander Robert Hicks, respectively.

Our first look at S.W.A.T. Exiles sees Hondo back in the line of duty, fully strapped into his LAPD bulletproof vest and looking tough as he struts across the top of a building in Los Angeles on the lookout for his perp. Another shot of the primary character sees him sitting behind a desk — a position that’s unfamiliar to him, but will serve as his new base in the upcoming series. We’ve also got a lineup of the new recruits who will use Hondo’s knowledge to their benefit with an ensemble that includes Lucy Barrett (Deep Water), Adain Bradley (Warfare), Zyra Gorecki (La Brea), Freddy Miyares (When They See Us) and Ronen Rubinstein (9-1-1: Lone Star).

‘S.W.A.T. Exiles’ Is Already Stacking Its Guest List

In addition to the regular primary ensemble, S.W.A.T. Exiles is also building an impressive group of recurring and guest stars. So far, we know that Bel Air alum Lenora Crichlow will join as a guest alongside Cruel Intentions’ Selma Blair and Billions’ Jerry O’Connell.

Check out the first look images of S.W.A.T. Exiles above and stay tuned for more information about the upcoming production.