SWAT Season 8: Confirmed Return, Potential Release Date, and Returning Cast Details

StarPulse

There will be a new season of SWAT! This may surprise some, as it was previously announced that the show’s seventh season would be its last.

Initially, the series was cancelled in 2023 after season 6, but this decision was reversed at the last minute to give the show a proper sendoff with a seventh and final season. However, following a campaign led by Shemar Moore, the show’s other stars, and its fans, the show was saved again, and in April 2024, it was renewed for season 8.

Moore expressed his excitement in a statement following the news: “SWAT IS BACK! BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I am so proud of this show and the people who have contributed to making it what it is. I am immensely grateful to the fans around the world who have supported, watched, enjoyed, and rooted for SWAT!

“It is entirely because of this support that SWAT will continue to shine! This remains a dream job for me. I love my SWAT crew, cast, writers, and producers – we have created an incredible, fun, exciting, provocative, and heartwarming show for the world to enjoy. Thank you to CBS and SONY for believing in SWAT and giving us this opportunity to shine!”

The upcoming season is expected to consist of 22 episodes, and notably, CBS is not calling this the final season, suggesting the possibility of a ninth season.

The renewal news came just before filming wrapped on season 8, but in an interview with TVLine, showrunner Andrew Dettmann confirmed that nothing was changed from the show’s initial plan.

He said: “No, this was the direction we had pushed anyway, because we thought if we end the last episode with that nice upswing of, like, ‘Damn it, this is the best team!,’ it ends in a way that’s ready to go forward.

“That was the plan most of the way through. It was great to get the news when we did about Season 8, but it really didn’t do a lot to affect the last episode.”

SWAT season 8 is expected to debut in the US on CBS as part of the fall season, with an October premiere being the most likely.

In the UK, seasons have typically followed on Sky Max and NOW some months later, meaning new episodes may not air until some time in 2025. We will keep this page updated with any more concrete news regarding the air dates for season 8.

Many of the stars of SWAT will be returning for season 8, including Shemar Moore as Sergeant Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson Jr, David Lim as Officer Victor Tan, Patrick St Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle Carmichael, and Anna Enger Ritch as Officer Zoe Powell.

Jay Harrington will also return as Sergeant David ‘Deacon’ Kay after a surprise decision to stay at the end of the season 8 finale. The character had been expected to retire, but in an interview with TVLine, showrunner Andrew Dettmann explained that it was always the plan for him to change his mind.

He explained: “Yeah, he [Deacon] was always going to be there. We knew Jay [Harrington] would be around. That was the one thing where I questioned myself a bit, the storyline of him retiring and coming back.

“I was a little worried after losing Street and Luca, that even faking that we were losing Deacon would turn people off. I’m hoping it didn’t, and I don’t think it did. So, yeah, Deacon’s back and is part of the team going forward.”

As Dettmann mentioned, some cast members won’t be returning, most notably Alex Russell, who played Officer Jim Street, and Kenny Johnson, who played Officer Dominique Luca.

Moore spoke with Deadline about these departures and the potential for the actors and characters to return, saying: “It’s hard to say goodbye to a bunch of wonderful people. Alex Russell, Kenny Johnson, and a couple of seasons back we lost Lina Esco.

“Change is hard; so now we have some OGs, myself as Hondo, Deacon [Jay Harrington], Hicks [Patrick St. Esprit], Tan [David Lim], and some newbies. But regarding those people that you miss, nobody died. And in the world of Hollywood, anything can happen.”

Here’s a full list of the actors and characters we currently know will be back for SWAT season 8:

  • 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 Hicks
  • Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle Carmichael
  • Anna Enger Ritch as Officer Zoe Powell

Although there isn’t a full trailer for SWAT season 8 yet, we do have a short teaser featuring the cast, including Shemar Moore, celebrating the news of the show’s return.