S.W.A.T. Defies Cancellation Again: Showrunner Teases Wedding for Street and Chris in Season 8
As many shows face cancellations in 2024, S.W.A.T. has miraculously avoided that fate with a surprise renewal from CBS. Initially set to conclude with Season 7, the procedural returned after a prior cancellation in 2023, leaving some storylines open, particularly regarding the characters Jim Street (Alex Russell) and Chris Alonso (Lina Esco). Now, showrunner Andrew Dettman has shared an unexpected update that fans are hoping to see come to fruition before the series faces cancellation once more.
Lina Esco departed S.W.A.T. following the Season 5 finale, yet the show continued to develop the “Stris” relationship off-screen. Street would occasionally mention updates on his relationship with Chris, including their plans to move in together. Although Russell left the show midway through Season 7, he teased his intentions to propose to Chris before riding off into the sunset on his motorcycle. With Season 8 on the horizon, fans have been eagerly awaiting news of a potential on-screen wedding, and Dettman expressed his enthusiasm during a recent interview with TVLine:
“You know, I would love to [do a wedding]. In our minds, Street and Chris are still very much part of the S.W.A.T. family.”
Unlike Hondo (Shemar Moore) and Nichelle (Rochelle Aytes), who tied the knot off-screen, Dettman assured fans that Street and Chris’s wedding would not be overlooked:
“I wouldn’t do that. We waited five seasons for Stris to finally get together, so bringing them back and showing their wedding would be amazing.”
As S.W.A.T. continues, there are ample opportunities for beloved characters to return. Season 8 will feature 22 episodes, allowing writers to further explore Street and Chris’s relationship and potentially bring back characters like Luca (Kenny Johnson), who also exited in Season 7:
“[Street and Chris] are still together, doing their thing. We did that little nod that they’re engaged, always hoping that we would have the opportunity to [follow up with a wedding].”
With production underway for Season 8, fans are excited about the possibility of former cast members returning to resolve their storylines. However, the reality remains that CBS could decide to cancel the long-running procedural after this season. If Dettman is serious about showcasing Street and Chris’s wedding, he should act quickly to make it happen.
Fans can catch the new season of S.W.A.T., premiering on Friday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. There’s plenty to look forward to, and anticipation is high for the upcoming episodes!
