Shemar Moore was all smiles as he celebrated the renewal of CBS’s hit series “S.W.A.T.” during the Fall Schedule Celebration in Hollywood. As the lead actor and producer, Moore has portrayed Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, the tough yet compassionate S.W.A.T. sergeant, for seven seasons, and fans are thrilled to see him return for an eighth.
After CBS initially canceled S.W.A.T. in 2023, a passionate campaign led by Moore and the show’s dedicated fanbase convinced the network to reverse its decision, renewing the series for a seventh—and what was expected to be the final—season. However, in a surprising turn of events, CBS recently announced an eighth season, giving fans even more action-packed episodes to look forward to.
Speaking on the red carpet, Moore reflected on how the team handled the uncertainty surrounding Season 7. “We were smart,” he told Deadline. “At the tail end of the strike, the producers, writers, and I got together at my house and said, ‘If this is it, let’s go out with a bang.’ We wanted to give fans everything they love about S.W.A.T.—from helicopters to motorcycle chases, fight scenes, and Hondo sprinting through an alley.”
With the Season 7 finale set for May 17, Moore teased that the episode was crafted to serve as both a potential series end and a new beginning. “When you get to the finale, you’ll see we shaped it in a way that it’s either our swan song or a fresh start. We didn’t change anything in the writing.”
One of the big questions on fans’ minds is whether beloved characters like Officer Dominique Luca (played by Kenny Johnson) and Officer Jim Street (played by Alex Russell) could return. Both actors departed the series after Season 7, but Moore left the door open for their possible return in Season 8.
“It’s hard to say goodbye to a bunch of wonderful people,” Moore admitted. “Alex Russell, Kenny Johnson, and even Lina Esco a couple of seasons back. Change is hard, but we still have some OGs—myself as Hondo, Deacon (Jay Harrington), Hicks (Patrick St. Esprit), Tan (David Lim)—and some new faces.”
Moore hinted that in Hollywood, anything is possible. “Nobody died, so who knows? In this world, anything can happen.” Fans of S.W.A.T. will no doubt be watching closely to see if Johnson and Russell make a surprise return in the upcoming season.
As S.W.A.T. gears up for its highly anticipated eighth season, Moore and the rest of the cast are ready to continue delivering the high-stakes action and compelling character moments that have made the show a fan favorite.
