While CBS’ surprise reversal of S.W.A.T.‘s cancelation is great news for fans of the procedural action-drama series, the unexpected turn of events also makes it less likely that Shemar Moore will return to another iconic TV role. Ahead of S.W.A.T.’s season 6 finale, CBS and Sony pulled the plug on their joint venture, sparking outrage from passionate fans of the six-year staple as well as backlash from Moore, one of the show’s stars. But now that S.W.A.T. is back on a track, the actor is gearing up for one last turn as the show’s main character, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.
With S.W.A.T. returning for a 13-episode final season 7, the series will have the chance to provide closure to its remaining plot threads and send off its core team in appropriate measure. However, the busy filming schedule will likely eat up much of Moore’s time, especially as he’s picked up producing duties for the final outing. So while his impending return as Hondo is undoubtedly an exciting turn of events, it’s also a sign that he’ll have time for other projects.
SWAT Season 7’s Renewal Makes Derek Morgan’s Return In Criminal Minds’ Revival Less Likely
Across 11 seasons of Criminal Minds, Emmy Award-winning actor Shemar Moore played Derek Morgan, a Supervisory Special Agent serving in the FBI’s Behavorial Analysis Unit (BAU) and a core member of the team. There’s no doubt that the long-running series helped launch Moore’s career to new heights. Every week, he was a familiar face on television, leading one of CBS’ most-watched programs. When Moore left the BAU behind in 2016, he merely traded his FBI credentials for an LAPD S.W.A.T. vest.
Since 2017, Moore has starred as Hondo in S.W.A.T. When CBS canceled S.W.A.T. for a brief moment in time, it seemed likely that Moore would find his way back to Criminal Minds: Evolution. But in the wake of the S.W.A.T. season 7 surprise renewal, a return to the BAU doesn’t seem likely for Moore — or at least not anytime in the imminent future. As S.W.A.T.‘s lead and a series producer, Moore will likely be putting most of his time into closing out the ultra-popular show. Even so, he remains a key Criminal Minds character who might return for Evolution‘s second season on Paramount+ if the stars align.
Will Shemar Moore Ever Return To Criminal Minds?
In spite of S.W.A.T. getting one more season, there’s still a chance that Shemar Moore could return to the world of Criminal Minds. However, it would most likely be after the S.W.A.T series finale. Moore isn’t opposed to revisiting past projects, as evidenced by his return to The Young and the Restless role for the show’s 50th anniversary earlier in 2023. While he hasn’t directly stated one or the other if he would rejoin Criminal Minds in any capacity, Derek Morgan’s return seems more likely thanks to Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2’s filming delay. If it’s on hold for a while, it’s at least possible there’ll be time for him make a cameo after S.W.A.T. wraps filming.
