S.W.A.T.’ Shocks Fans with Major Cast Changes in Season 8

S.W.A.T. fans have been on a roller coaster ride with the cancellation at the end of Season 6 of the cop drama, then the pickup for a limited number of episodes in Season 7, which in large was due to a post from star Shemar Moore pleading for CBS to renew the series. Now the little series that could, is back for a full 22 episodes in Season 8, which is only possible because showrunner Andrew Dettman never gave up hope and, even as he wrote what could have been the series finale, always left the door open just in case.

“We went all through Season 7 thinking this is our goodbye,” Dettman told Parade. “And then we were aware, Shemar and I—he was texting me a lot, very late at night, knowing that our ratings were doing well, the stories were working and that we had found a new audience. We had in the back of our heads all along, we said, ‘Either we’re going to go out really on top, or we’re going to convince the world, CBS, etcetera, that they needed to order Season 8.’ Other than that initial cancellation, everything has felt like a gift on top of that because we went from canceled to getting 13 to say goodbye, which is an honor and a privilege right there that people don’t get. And then to get 22 more, who knows how long we’ll continue now?”

And Shemar said, “I pinched myself because this type of stuff doesn’t happen. I’m not saying it’s never happened before, but two years back-to-back uncanceled and to see the uncanceled headlines twice, raised up from the dead, avoiding death, all that stuff, it’s just a testament to the fans because the fans made noise and watched and kept the numbers going and Netflix going and all that.”

Here’s what we know so far about S.W.A.T. Season 8, including cast updates.

What is the release date for Season 8 of S.W.A.T.?

S.W.A.T. Season 8 is set to premiere on Friday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Who is in the cast of Season 8 of S.W.A.T.?

Shemar Moore as Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr.

Jay Harrington as Sergeant David “Deacon” Kay

David Lim as Officer Victor Tan

Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert “Bob” Hicks

Anna Enger Ritch as Officer Zoe Powell

Ritch debuted late in Season 5, was promoted to series regular for Season 7.

Who will be joining the cast of Season 8 of S.W.A.T.?

Niko Pepaj

Pepaj, who has been recurring as Officer Miguel Alfaro, will become a series regular in Season 8.

Annie Ilonzeh will recur as Devin Gamble.

According to Deadline, Gamble was born into an L.A. crime family, leaving her with a fierce determination to put that legacy behind her. She joined the LAPD but her father’s arrest for a serious crime cast a shadow that Gamble could only escape by leaving L.A. for the Oakland PD. Now, 10 years later, Hondo invites her to become a new member of 20-Squad.

Who left S.W.A.T. in Season 7?

Due to his character’s physical ailments as a result of taking three bullets to the chest, Kenny Johnson was forced to retire his role as Dominique Luca.

Prior to that, Alex Russell transferred out to head the Long Beach Police Department’s 30 Company S.W.A.T. team following the death of its leader.

And in newer news, Rochelle Aytes, who plays Hondo’s wife Nichelle Carmichael, will be reverting to guest star status after she was cast in the upcoming CBS series Watson. How many episodes she actually appears in remains to be seen.

Related: Showrunner Andrew Dettman on the S.W.A.T. Season 7 Finale Having the Most Deadly Adversary Yet

What happened at the end of S.W.A.T. Season 7?

When the Season 7 finale was written, the thought was it was going to be the series finale, so there’s a lot of resolution. It begins with the return of Zane Graham (Ian Verdun), the member of the Green Rebellion who got away. The Romeo terrorist is back to avenge the death of his girlfriend Eliza and he is going scorched earth.

When Zane and his new group of European terrorists steal a large amount of Semtex, they set off a bomb that sends 60 Squad to the hospital, alive but with shrapnel. As Deacon’s paperwork has yet to be processed, he isn’t officially retired and he returns to 20 Squad as a result of the crisis.

Vasquez (Jessica Camacho) flies in from FBI headquarters in D.C. to help Hondo with the case since she was involved with the earlier one. The team figures out that Zane’s target is to blowup the Paclink Pipeline, which runs under all of L.A., which would result in the deaths of 50,000 people and cause irreparable damage.

Alfaro, who is still bickering with Tan, figures out where Zane is going to set off the Semtex to do the most damage and the team heads out. They manage to arrive in the nick of time, but Zane’s crew has set a timer on the bomb. Tan and Alfaro, working together, manage to defuse it.

But Zane isn’t going to let that be the end. He takes a tanker truck full of petrol and heads to the Pomona Airfield where there is another weak spot in the pipeline. Hondo jumps on the back of the tanker as it’s moving, climbs to the top, and plants two explosive devices to blow up the truck.

Just in time, Deacon and Vasquez come to Hondo’s rescue, pulling him off the tanker truck into their helicopter as the tanker explodes.

Back at headquarters, Tan tells Alfaro he hopes they end up on the same team. Deacon tells Hondo he’s back for good after his wife tells him that her sister will act as a nanny to the kids. Hondo tells Hick that his team is shaping up, he only has one spot to fill and it looks as if he knows who he wants (see above).

Then Hondo and his father (Obba Babatundé) reach a détente when Hondo is convinced by his dad that he’s always been proud of him.

How to watch S.W.A.T.

S.W.A.T. airs on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. New episodes are available to watch the following day on Paramount+.