The Shocking Truth: Why S.W.A.T. Was Canceled After Season 8—And The 'S.W.A.T. Exiles' Spinoff That Replaces Season 9

The question on every fan's mind is simple: Will S.W.A.T. be renewed for Season 9? As of December 2025, the definitive and official answer is no. After another dramatic, last-minute reprieve for Season 7 and a subsequent renewal for Season 8, the action-packed procedural drama has been canceled by CBS for the third—and seemingly final—time, concluding its run after eight seasons and 163 episodes.

This news, announced in March 2025, marks the end of an era for Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr. and the Los Angeles S.W.A.T. team. However, the story of Hondo is far from over. In a move that shocked and thrilled fans, the cancellation was immediately followed by the announcement of a brand-new, highly anticipated spinoff series: S.W.A.T. Exiles, which will effectively serve as the continuation of the franchise and the answer to what Season 9 would have been.

The Complete Biography and Career of Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr. (Shemar Moore)

• Full Name: Shemar Franklin Moore
• Born: April 20, 1970, in Oakland, California, U.S.
• Role in S.W.A.T.: Sergeant II Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr., the lead character and commander of the S.W.A.T. unit.
• Career Highlights:
• Modeling: Began his career as a fashion model.
• The Young and the Restless (1994–2005, 2014): Played Malcolm Winters, a role that earned him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
• Soul Train (1999–2003): Served as the host of the iconic music-dance show.
• Criminal Minds (2005–2016, 2017): Portrayed Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan, a foundational member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).
• S.W.A.T. (2017–2025): Starred as Hondo, serving as an executive producer and the face of the series.
• Key Character Arc as Hondo: A highly respected, locally born and raised S.W.A.T. officer promoted to team leader to bridge the gap between the police force and the community. His journey has focused on balancing the demands of his duty with social justice and his personal life as a husband and father.

Why S.W.A.T. Was Canceled After Season 8: The Financial Reality

The history of S.W.A.T. is a textbook example of a show with strong, loyal viewership repeatedly running into financial barriers. The final cancellation after Season 8 was not due to a drop in ratings or a lack of fan enthusiasm, but rather a cold, hard calculation of business economics.

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The Core Issue: Licensing Fee Disagreements

The root of all three cancellations—the initial one after Season 6, the near-cancellation after Season 7, and the final one after Season 8—stems from a dispute over licensing fees between the network, CBS, and the production studio, Sony Pictures Television.

• The Network's Stance (CBS): CBS was reportedly unwilling to pay the increasing licensing fee demanded by Sony to air the show. The network cited the high production costs associated with the action-packed, on-location nature of the series.
• The Studio's Stance (Sony): As the show aged, the cost to produce each episode naturally increased, requiring a higher licensing fee to maintain a sustainable financial model. When CBS insisted on a "flat license fee," Sony found the financial terms unacceptable for continuing the original series.

Despite S.W.A.T. consistently performing well in its Friday night time slot and delivering strong live and delayed viewership, the financial gap proved too wide to bridge for a ninth season. CBS chose to "outright end the series," skipping the renewal negotiations that had previously saved the show.

The S.W.A.T. Exiles Spinoff: A New Chapter for Hondo and the Franchise

The biggest update for fans mourning the loss of Season 9 is the immediate pivot to a new series, S.W.A.T. Exiles. This spinoff is not just a consolation prize; it is a strategic move designed to continue the storyline of Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr. while circumventing the financial and contractual issues that plagued the original series.

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The new series promises a fresh, experimental approach to the S.W.A.T. universe, taking Hondo and a select few familiar faces out of the familiar streets of Los Angeles and onto a global stage. The concept of "Exiles" suggests a more mobile, international threat-response unit, which could potentially justify a different—and more financially viable—production model.

The Returning Core Cast and New Premise

The centerpiece of S.W.A.T. Exiles remains Shemar Moore. His character, Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr., will lead a new, specialized team. This ensures continuity and leverages the star power that has kept the franchise alive through multiple cancellations.

Crucially, Hondo will not be alone. While the full cast roster is still being finalized, reports indicate that at least two other beloved characters from the original series will be making the transition to the new show, providing a vital link to the original S.W.A.T. team:

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• Jay Harrington as David "Deacon" Kay: The veteran officer and Hondo's trusted second-in-command. Deacon's presence is essential for maintaining the team's professional bedrock and emotional core.
• Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks: The commanding officer who has consistently supported Hondo. Hicks's involvement suggests the new unit will still have high-level support within the LAPD or a similar national agency.

The plot is expected to focus on Hondo’s new unit tackling international threats and high-stakes missions, offering a change of scenery and a broader scope for the action sequences that fans have come to love. This shift to a "new team of officers" allows the show to introduce fresh dynamics and new entities, injecting new life into the procedural format.

The Legacy and Future of the S.W.A.T. Universe

The cancellation of the main S.W.A.T. series after Season 8 is not the end of the franchise, but a dramatic evolution. The show’s journey—from its 2017 revival of the 1970s cop series to its multiple near-death experiences—highlights the power of fan campaigns and the dedication of its star, Shemar Moore, who has been openly vocal about his desire to keep the story going.

For fans who were hoping for a traditional Season 9, the transition to S.W.A.T. Exiles offers a compelling alternative. It allows the narrative to continue without the baggage of the old financial model. The story of Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr., his commitment to justice, and his leadership of an elite tactical unit will live on, ensuring that the legacy of the S.W.A.T. team remains a fixture in the television landscape for the foreseeable future. The new series is a testament to the fact that while "nothing lasts forever," as Shemar Moore once noted, a great story can always find a new way to be told.