S.W.A.T. is back in action! Defying the odds once again, the action drama has been renewed for the 2024-25 season, with Shemar Moore set to continue as both star and executive producer. Season 8 will feature 22 episodes.
This announcement comes just a year after the show faced cancellation, only to be revived shortly after for a seventh and supposedly final season. This time, CBS is keeping its options open, not labeling Season 8 as the last.
The surprise renewal comes as S.W.A.T. wraps production on its seventh season. Moore recently hinted at the show’s continuation by sharing set photos on Instagram, describing the upcoming season finale as “fire,” which implies it’s not a series finale.
According to sources, the seventh season finale was crafted to be satisfying but also leaves room for future storylines, so no last-minute script changes are necessary following the renewal.
Discussions for Season 8 began earlier this week, with CBS negotiating with Sony Pictures Television for a potential license fee reduction—common in today’s economic landscape. Last year, Sony was hesitant to renew S.W.A.T. at a flat fee, which led to CBS canceling the show before both parties reached a new agreement for a 13-episode seventh season.
It’s unclear if Sony agreed to a reduced fee this year or if the terms remained the same, but the shift back to a 22-episode order played a significant role in securing the renewal. A larger season size helps with cost amortization.
CBS’s decision to extend S.W.A.T.‘s run is again attributed to the series’ strong ratings on both linear and streaming platforms. It has consistently ranked as a top 20 primetime drama, currently sitting at No. 17 with an average of 6.1 million viewers. With multi-platform viewing factored in, S.W.A.T. attracts 8.8 million viewers per episode and has seen an 11% year-over-year increase.
“S.W.A.T. continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our dedicated writers and producers,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to renew it again and grateful to our partners at Sony and CBS Studios for their collaboration in bringing it back for another season.”
It’s rare for a series to reverse a cancellation decision and continue for multiple seasons. A similar situation occurred with Sony’s Drop Dead Diva, which produced two more seasons after being canceled by Lifetime.
Shemar Moore expressed gratitude for the show’s revival: “I am so proud of this show and everyone involved. It’s a dream job for me, and I appreciate the fans around the world for their unwavering support.”
S.W.A.T. joins a lineup of renewed CBS dramas, including NCIS, FBI, and Fire Country. Other shows, like NCIS: Hawai’i and The Equalizer, are still awaiting their fate.
Moore leads a talented cast that includes Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Rochelle Aytes, and Anna Enger Ritch. The executive production team features Shawn Ryan, Andrew Dettmann, and others.
As the excitement builds for Season 8, the team looks forward to delivering even more thrilling stories to fans!
