'S.W.A.T.' Officially Sets Return With New Release Date

S.W.A.T. fans will finally see Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson return with an all-new crew in the anticipated spin-off, now that its US premiere has been confirmed. The original show has amassed a dedicated fan base after eight seasons of following Hondo’s 20 Squad take on high-risk missions in service to the public. S.W.A.T. aired a total of 163 episodes across eight seasons — that’s why it was bittersweet knowing the show had been canceed and rebooted in a spin-off.

S.W.A.T. Exiles is set to premiere on Starz in the U.S. on Sept. 25, with a worldwide release to follow through separate distribution deals. Sony Pictures Television will also stagger the show’s release in the US, with plans to launch on other platforms like Netflix, Variety reports. The 10-episode series airs weekly on Fridays on the Starz network, simultaneously available on the dedicated app, all streaming and on-demand platforms, and in select international regions. The original show aired from 2017 to 2025 on CBS, with the later seasons made available in the US via Paramount+, Netflix, and Hulu.

The logline for S.W.A.T. Exiles is the perfect way to approach a spin-off without most of the original cast — when a high-profile operation goes sideways, Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson (Shemar Moore) is forced to come out of retirement to lead and mentor new S.W.A.T. recruits for future missions. Moore leads a new ensemble featuring Ronen Rubinstein, Freddy Miyares, Lucy Barrett, Zyra Gorecki, and Adain Bradley. Moore’s S.W.A.T. co-stars Jay Harrington, Patrick St. Esprit, and David Lim have also been confirmed to return in guest appearances.

Positioned as a sequel season and spin-off of the original, S.W.A.T. Exiles also feels like a franchise reset because of its premise and new ensemble. There’s also a significant shift in the narrative structure, which centers on an experienced team expected to mature by the season finale. Contrast that with S.W.A.T.‘s hardened veterans, a handful of whom are as capable of leading the team as Hondo. Sony described the spin-off as an edgy show that departs from the original format, propelling the franchise to a whole new direction.

Featuring fresh and fan-favorite characters, S.W.A.T. Exiles is expected to draw in new and long-time fans to the series. Hondo, Sergeant David “Deacon” Kay (Harrington), Commander Robert Hicks (St. Esprit), and Victor Tan (Lim) will also bridge the two shows, bringing in fans of the original to adopt the spin-off. Moore has teased Exiles as a grittier version of S.W.A.T., which already featured multiple distinct action sequences in every episode. It’s not yet clear whether the spin-off will focus on an overarching storyline, given that it will have 10 episodes.

S.W.A.T. Exiles is expected to lean heavily on the clash between veterans and rookies, and how Hondo handles his inexperienced teammates. As the franchise’s emotional center, Hondo’s familiarity also risks diminishing the new characters, who are expected to pale in comparison to the 20 Squad. Regardless, the spin-off revives the franchise with a new team, which will hopefully be developed across multiple seasons.