S.W.A.T. Exiles: Starz Sets September 25 Premiere Date

Eight seasons after it first roared onto CBS, "S.W.A.T." is back in the headlines, but not for the reason longtime fans might expect. There is no ninth season on the original network. Instead, the spike in searches traces back to a very fresh piece of news: on June 30, 2026, Starz confirmed that "S.W.A.T. Exiles," the Shemar Moore led spinoff, has landed a U.S. home and a premiere date. Variety, Deadline, and TheFutonCritic all reported the same story within hours of each other, and the timing lines up with why "s.w.a.t." is suddenly trending again on Google.

According to Variety and Deadline, Sony Pictures Television closed a deal that sends "S.W.A.T. Exiles" to Starz for its United States premiere on September 25, with new episodes rolling out weekly on Fridays. The reports also note that Sony has now sold the series in essentially every major international market, from Europe to Latin America to Asia Pacific, which is part of why the announcement is generating so much buzz right now. For a show that was canceled by CBS not once but three times, landing a confirmed premiere date and a near total global sale is genuinely big news for its fanbase.

The News: A Premiere Date, Finally

The core story driving today's search interest is straightforward. "S.W.A.T. Exiles" had been in limbo since it was first announced back in the fall of 2025, shortly after "S.W.A.T." wrapped its original CBS run. Multiple outlets, including TVGuide and TVInsider, had reported that Sony was still shopping the show around to networks and streamers without a confirmed destination. That changed on June 30, 2026, when Starz announced it had acquired the U.S. rights and locked in a September 25 premiere.

Per TheFutonCritic's release and corroborating coverage from Parade and Movieweb, the series will consist of 10 episodes for its first season, airing weekly on the Starz app and across Starz's streaming and on demand platforms. That distribution model, a linear style weekly rollout rather than a full season dump, mirrors how Starz has handled several of its other originals and gives the show a sustained marketing runway through the fall.

Full Cast List

Shemar Moore returns as the emotional center of the franchise, reprising his role as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. He is joined by a mostly new ensemble built around the show's generational conflict premise, plus a pair of familiar faces making guest appearances to bridge the old series and the new one.

Returning and New Cast

Shemar Moore as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson
Lucy Barrett as a new recruit
Adain Bradley as a new recruit
Zyra Gorecki as a new recruit
Freddy Miyares as a new recruit
Ronen Rubinstein as a new recruit
Jay Harrington as Sergeant David "Deacon" Kay (guest appearance)
Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks (guest appearance)

Sony TV executive Katherine Pope has described the new squad as a deliberate swing at generational tension, comparing the tone to "Top Gun: Maverick," with a veteran leader forced to whip a group of green, unconventional recruits into shape. The five newcomers reportedly include a former Marine from South Central Los Angeles, an undercover cop with a controversial shooting in his past, a top tactical academy performer who is also an amputee, a socially awkward tactical prodigy, and a former beauty queen turned law enforcement influencer, a mix clearly designed to modernize the franchise's DNA while keeping Hondo as its anchor.

Where the Story Stands

To understand "Exiles," it helps to know how the original series actually ended. "S.W.A.T." wrapped its eighth and final season on CBS with a two part finale that aired May 16, 2025, closing out Hondo's arc as a leader inside the LAPD's elite tactical unit. The show had survived cancellation twice before, in 2023 and 2024, each time getting a reprieve thanks to strong ratings and vocal fan campaigns. The third cancellation, announced in March 2025, stuck for good on CBS, and Shemar Moore was open about his disappointment at the time, publicly asking other networks and streamers, including Netflix, to consider picking the show back up for a ninth season.

That renewal never happened on CBS or anywhere else, at least not as a direct season 9. What emerged instead was "S.W.A.T. Exiles," announced not long after the finale aired. The new series picks up after "a high profile mission goes sideways," pulling Hondo out of forced retirement to lead an experimental, last chance S.W.A.T. unit built from untested young recruits. It is framed less as a continuation of the old show's case of the week formula and more as a legacy story about Hondo mentoring a new generation while wrestling with his own uncertain future in law enforcement.

Where to Watch

The original eight seasons of "S.W.A.T." remain available to stream, and the show has reportedly seen a real ratings bump since it landed on Netflix in August 2025, which is part of what fueled ongoing revival speculation throughout the back half of last year. Current and former episodes can also often be found through Paramount+, CBS's own streaming home, for viewers who prefer to catch up there before the spinoff arrives.

"S.W.A.T. Exiles" itself will not be on CBS or Paramount+. It is a Starz exclusive in the United States, premiering September 25 with weekly Friday releases through the Starz app and other Starz branded streaming and on demand platforms. That is a meaningful shift for fans used to finding Hondo on broadcast television, so anyone planning to watch will need an active Starz subscription come late September.

Season Release Schedule

Season 1 of "S.W.A.T. Exiles" consists of 10 episodes, premiering September 25, 2026, with subsequent episodes rolling out weekly on Fridays. Based on that cadence, the first season should run through late November 2026. No second season has been announced yet, which makes sense given the show has not even premiered. Given the original series' history of last minute renewal drama, expect Starz to wait for premiere ratings before committing to anything beyond the initial 10 episode order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is S.W.A.T. getting a season 9 on CBS?

No. CBS canceled "S.W.A.T." for the third and final time in March 2025, and the series finale aired May 16, 2025, closing out eight seasons. There is no season 9 planned at CBS.

What is S.W.A.T. Exiles?

It is a spinoff starring Shemar Moore as Hondo, who comes out of retirement to lead a new, inexperienced S.W.A.T. unit. It is not a direct continuation of the original show's numbering, it is a new series with its own title, cast, and premise.

When does S.W.A.T. Exiles premiere and where can I watch it?

It premieres September 25, 2026, exclusively on Starz in the United States, with new episodes airing weekly on Fridays through the Starz app and other Starz streaming platforms.

Can I still watch the original S.W.A.T. series?

Yes. All eight seasons are available to stream, with the show currently on Netflix as of August 2025, and episodes have also been accessible through Paramount+.

What to Watch Next

While waiting for "S.W.A.T. Exiles" to premiere in September, fans of tactical, ensemble driven police procedurals have a few solid options to fill the gap. "FBI" and its spinoffs on CBS offer a similar blend of high stakes team dynamics and case driven urgency, with the same kind of unit camaraderie that made the original "S.W.A.T." work. "Chicago P.D." brings a grittier, more serialized take on law enforcement drama with a deep bench of characters built over more than a decade on the air. And for viewers who want something closer to the "Exiles" mentor and recruits setup, "The Rookie" follows a similar generational dynamic inside the LAPD, pairing veteran officers with newcomers learning the job in real time.