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After eight thrilling seasons, the beloved police drama S.W.A.T. took its final bow on May 16, 2025. However, fans are finding it hard to say goodbye to a show that has consistently kept them on the edge of their seats. The series, known for its intense action and compelling storytelling, faced not one or two, but three cancellations, with two of those decisions being reversed. This leaves many wondering if the third cancellation will stick or if there’s hope for a ninth season. Closer delves into the future prospects of the show.
CBS Canceled ‘S.W.A.T.’ in March 2025
In March 2025, CBS announced they were pulling the plug on S.W.A.T. for the third time, just weeks before the eighth season wrapped up with its finale. This decision marked yet another emotional farewell for the cast and crew who had become a tight-knit family over the years.
Andrew Dettmann, the show’s dedicated showrunner and executive producer, expressed his sorrow in a heartfelt statement. “It’s heartbreaking news,” he said. “Working with this cast and crew has been an immense pleasure. They are an extraordinary group of people who have poured their hearts into this show for eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can’t give them enough credit for their dedication and hard work.”
Shemar Moore, who brought the character Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson to life, also took to Instagram to share his feelings with fans. “I wasn’t going to do this, but I can’t help it,” he admitted in a candid video. “Here we are, season 8, three weeks away from the finale. We are canceled again. It sucks. It’s sad.”
“I wasn’t going to do this, but I can’t help it,” he said. “S.W.A.T., here we are, season 8, three weeks away from the finale. We are canceled again. It sucks. It’s sad.”
Shemar Moore
Is ‘S.W.A.T.’ Renewed for Season 9?
While many fans were holding out hope that CBS would reverse its decision to cancel S.W.A.T., as it did ahead of seasons 7 and 8, this did not happen after the third cancellation. However, Sony Pictures TV Studios prexy Katherine Pope said that the creators did attempt to sell the show to other networks.
“It felt very clear from CBS that this was the end,” she explained to Variety on May 22, 2025. “It was a difficult decision for them, but it felt very final. So we set out to sell the show elsewhere. We tried really hard, and we felt like we got close at a place or two, but we just couldn’t quite get it over the line.”
Though S.W.A.T. was not renewed for season 9 at CBS or another network, fans will still get to watch the beloved series in another form.
‘S.W.A.T.’ Is Getting a Spinoff
A S.W.A.T. spinoff series called S.W.A.T. Exiles was announced shortly after the series finale. Shemar is set to reprise his role as Hondo.
“After a high-profile mission goes sideways, Hondo is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits,” the logline reads. “Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.”
S.W.A.T. Exiles will have 10 episodes, although it does not yet have a home on any network or streaming service as of publication. Katherine told Variety that the series plans to begin production in August 2025.