S.W.A.T. Exiles, the spinoff of the long-running CBS procedural S.W.A.T., premieres Friday, September 25 on Starz. The series brings back Shemar Moore as Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson and has already been renewed for a second season.
The first season consists of 10 episodes, with new episodes debuting weekly on Fridays. The show marks a shift for the franchise, moving from CBS to Starz and introducing a darker, grittier tone.
A New Chapter for Hondo
The spinoff picks up two years after the events of the original series, which ended in May 2025 after eight seasons. Hondo has been forced into retirement following a botched mission and is recruited by his former commander, Robert Hicks, to lead an experimental unit of young officers who have struggled to fit into the department.
The new team includes Sammy Bishop, a gun-show influencer played by Lucy Barrett; Ethan Cole, a tactical savant played by Freddy Miyares; Cassidy Reed, played by Zyra Gorecki; Jude Callan, played by Ronen Rubinstein; and Malik Anderson, played by Adain Bradley.
Jay Harrington returns as David ‘Deacon’ Kay, Patrick St. Esprit returns as Commander Robert Hicks, and David Lim reprises his role as Victor Tan later in the season.
Moore on the Transition
Moore, 56, has spoken about the challenge of saying goodbye to the original cast after eight years. ‘I’ll be honest, it was hard,’ Moore told People. ‘You know, it’s hard to say goodbye. But in life, and especially in Hollywood, nothing lasts forever.’
He also described the new series as a departure in tone. ‘When you see this show, it’s darker, it’s grittier,’ Moore said. ‘It looks darker, it feels darker, it’s grittier — the tone — but it’s still S.W.A.T.’
In a separate interview with UPI, Moore spoke about the evolution of his character. ‘To be a superhero all the time, it’s fun, but it gets one-dimensional and a little bit boring,’ he said. ‘So, Hondo’s always going to be that dude and he’s going to get the job done.’
Plot and Conspiracy
The season follows Hondo as he works to turn the mismatched recruits into a team while dealing with clashing personalities and a generational divide. The stakes rise when he discovers there may be a mole within his squad and a conspiracy reaching into the upper levels of the LAPD and the mayor’s office.
A trailer released by Starz in September showed Hondo in a cemetery, hinting at a possible tragic twist. The series has been described by Starz as raising ‘the stakes of the legacy series’ and introducing ‘a bold new era.’
Release Schedule
The first episode, titled ‘Clean Entry,’ premieres September 25. New episodes will follow weekly on Fridays on the Starz app and all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms in the U.S. International audiences will be able to watch through local and regional outlets.
Starz renewed the series for a second season in August 2026, more than a month before its premiere. Moore celebrated the early renewal on Instagram, writing: ‘Sept 25th is the day!!!! LOCK IN and SQUAD UP for a WILD RIDE!!! S.W.A.T. EXILES COMING AT YA.’
Jason Ning serves as showrunner and executive producer. Neal H. Moritz also executive produces. The series is commissioned by Sony Pictures Television.