The S.W.A.T. family is reuniting — at least for one more mission. Just months after the hit CBS procedural wrapped its eighth and final season, the upcoming spinoff S.W.A.T.: Exiles is bringing back two of the show’s most familiar faces. According to Entertainment Weekly, Jay Harrington and Patrick St. Esprit will reprise their roles as Sgt. David “Deacon” Kay and Cmdr. Robert Hicks, joining Shemar Moore for the pilot episode of the new series.

A Familiar Team Rides Again

While S.W.A.T.’s cancellation earlier this year left fans stunned — and the cast emotional — the fast-tracked announcement of Exiles reignited hope that Hondo’s story wasn’t over. The new series will pick up after a high-stakes mission gone wrong, pulling Hondo out of retirement to lead an experimental and unpredictable S.W.A.T. unit made up of young, untested recruits.

According to the official logline, Hondo will be forced to “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.”

It’s unclear if Harrington and St. Esprit’s returns are one-time cameos or if they’ll appear throughout the season, but fans are thrilled to see them back in action — even if just for a reunion with Moore’s Hondo.

Behind the Scenes: Tension and Surprise

While Exiles sparked excitement, its announcement also stirred some controversy. Several S.W.A.T. veterans admitted they were caught off guard by the spinoff’s development. In a candid June 2025 interview with TVLine, Jay Harrington revealed that he learned about the project only a day before it went public — thanks to a personal call from Shemar Moore.

“Shemar reached out to all of us to say, ‘This is what’s going on…,’” Harrington said. “There’s talk they’ll reach out to us about stuff. He wanted to be the one to tell us and say, ‘Your reps will find out shortly.’ … If there was any disappointment, it’s that when they announced it, we weren’t mentioned at all. But it was short-lived. We put in eight years of great work, and nothing can take that away.”

Co-star David Lim, who played Officer Victor Tan, was more somber. In a heartfelt Instagram post, he shared his disappointment that the original cast wasn’t acknowledged when Exiles was revealed.

“After eight incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition,” Lim wrote. “I may not know what the future holds for Tan, but I couldn’t be more proud of what we created together — our cast, writers, producers, crew… our S.W.A.T. family. No version of this story can take that away.”

A New Chapter Begins

Despite the behind-the-scenes emotions, the S.W.A.T. spirit lives on. Production for S.W.A.T.: Exiles is officially set to begin in late September 2025 in Los Angeles, marking a fresh start for the franchise.

Moore will once again lead from the front, reprising his fan-favorite role as Hondo — a character defined by integrity, grit, and unwavering loyalty. With Harrington and St. Esprit back for the pilot, Exiles looks ready to blend the legacy of the original with a bold, new direction.

The future of S.W.A.T. may look different, but one thing’s certain: the call to serve never really ends.

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