Swift ‘S.W.A.T.’ Spinoff: Behind The Mad Dash To Get ‘Exiles’ Starring Shemar Moore Off The Ground

S.W.A.T. fans have been on an emotional rollercoaster over the past two years, mourning the series’ cancellation and rejoicing in its subsequent resurrection — three times each.

Like the action drama’s first two comebacks at CBS — its surprising cancellation reversal in 2023 and equally surprising 2024 Season 8 renewal after Season 7 had been billed as final — the most recent one was a cause for celebration, at least at the beginning.

And like the previous two saves, that last one also came as a surprise, two and a half months after S.W.A.T.‘s latest (and permanent) cancellation by CBS and only 3 days after its series finale aired on the broadcast network. On Sunday night, S.W.A.T. studio Sony Pictures Television announced that it was extending the franchise with a spinoff series, S.W.A.T. Exiles, headlined by original series’ star Shemar Moore reprising his character as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.

The news about the offshoot came as a surprise to the rest of the S.W.A.T. cast and most of its writers, who only learned of the spinoff a couple of days prior. The oversight, which alienated some series veterans, may have stemmed from the lightning speed with which Exiles came together, with ink on the deals not yet dry when the announcement was made.

The 10-episode Exiles comes from a new creative team, with Jason Ning (Lucifer) as showrunner. Filming is set to begin this summer in Los Angeles where the original series was shot.

The initial fan elation — and props from the industry for Sony TV keeping S.W.A.T.’s 200-person LA-based crew employed — was soon mixed with questions about why other cast members were not recruited for the spinoff. Brewing fan criticism over the lack of more OGs on Exiles was addressed by Moore in an IG video, in which, touting the spinoff as “bigger, bolder, S.W.A.T. on steroids,” he praised his castmates while using a football metaphor to call himself the long-running series’ quarterback.

Development on steroids

Exiles came together very quickly to unveil during the annual LA Screenings where Sony TV is looking to line up international (as well as domestic) buyers for the new series.

The idea to do a S.W.A.T. spinoff had been floated on and off for years by co-creator, executive producer and former showrunner Shawn Ryan.

Since Ryan is under an exclusive overall deal at Netflix, he has no involvement in S.W.A.T. Exiles. Still, I hear he was made aware of it. According to sources, Sony-based Original Film, which produced the S.W.A.T. series as well as the 2003 S.W.A.T. movie, reached out to key creative auspices on the CBS drama such as Ryan and Andrew Dettmann, executive producer/showrunner of the last three seasons, several weeks ago, notifying them that a spinoff led by Moore was being fast-tracked with a new creative team.

“SWAT universe was dead for less than 48 hours. So thrilled for Shemar and our crew,” Ryan wrote on X following the announcement of Exiles. Can’t wait to see what they do with this…”

Ning’s involvement came together even faster. I hear The Brothers Sun writer-producer, who previously had an overall deal with Sony TV where he is spearheading a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon TV series in the works at Amazon, was approached by the studio earlier this month with the general idea for a S.W.A.T. offshoot with Moore. That kicked off a speedy process of him pitching his take and the project sailing through approvals to a series green light within the span of two weeks. That included dealmaking that was wrapped up in time, with Sony TV announcing a new Ning overall pact alongside the S.W.A.T. Exiles series order.

That is an extremely quick turnaround following the mothership series’ cancellation by CBS. According to studio sources, Sony TV opted to circumvent development on Exiles and instead fact track it to series because of the short window it had to keep Moore and the S.W.A.T. soundstages and crew members. It also wanted to put the project in front of international buyers at the LA Screenings, which kicked off late last week.

Telling the cast

According to sources, Moore was the one to break the news to his former castmates, reaching out to them by a phone call/text on Thursday or Friday last week to tell them that there was going to be a spinoff which none of them were part of.

Sources close to the actor say that he did the outreach so the cast heard it from him and didn’t feel blindsided.

I hear some cast members were upset about not getting a call from the studio and by the fact that they were not asked back. S.W.A.T. writers only heard about the offshoot through the actors.

CBS, which aired S.W.A.T. for eight seasons, had not been given heads-up about the spinoff either, finding out about it when the official announcement was made Sunday night, sources said.

One talent rep called the lack of communication from the studio “inappropriate” and “a slight,” while another called key people from the original series being kept in the dark “a little weird” and “a little slippery.”

The rush to get the spinoff together in record time likely contributed to the somewhat chaotic notification process, and I hear Sony TV executives have since apologized to talent for not reaching out to them directly.

Same Quarterback, New Team

The office premise of Exiles — Hondo (Moore) leading “a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits,” indicates that Sony TV is looking to keep talent costs in check by surrounding Moore with up-and-comers.

That did not sit well with some fans who have been calling for Hondo to be joined in the spinoff by other OG characters, most notably, Jay Harrington’s popular Deacon.

In his lengthy IG video, Moore acknowledged his S.W.A.T. cast.

“I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That’s not arrogant. That’s not ego, it’s a fact. I’m the quarterback,” he said.

Moore then continued, “But I had a strong squad, a family, a team,” telling his former colleagues, “I love you, I respect you, I appreciate you” before naming his S.W.A.T. co-stars.

In a likely reference to the casting changes for the spinoff, he added, “Tight ends get traded. The running back gets traded, the receivers get traded but the teams keep pushing with their quarterback and I’m that guy. So proud so grateful, not gonna apologize for nothing. Busted my ass for 31 years to do what I do, and excited for the future.”

While acknowledging that Moore sometimes “runs his mouth” on social media, sources close to the actor stressed his loyalty to his cast and crew and the role he played as a champion and voice that fought each of S.W.A.T.‘s cancellations.

In his video message, Moore also paid homage to S.W.A.T.’s passionate fans who helped keep the original series alive for eight seasons. Since the show’s continuing popularity drove Sony TV’s decision to proceed with a spinoff, fans’ opinion matters, including their reaction to building the offshoot around a single OG character, Hondo.

“Vox populi. People have spoken, and [Sony TV] should listen,” one observer noted.

The new series is still in very early stages creatively. While there are no current plans for the offshoot to feature other S.W.A.T. cast members, there is always a possibility that alums could appear in some form, potentially as guest stars, sources said.

Throughout its run, S.W.A.T. has enjoyed healthy international sales, allowing Sony TV to turn in a profit while getting a modest license fee from CBS, a major factor in the series’ longevity on the network.

On Exiles, sources indicate that there has been initial interest from buyers both in the U.S. and internationally. I hear CBS has not been approached and is not expected to make a play for the spinoff.