Shemar Moore is back as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr. as S.W.A.T. Exiles officially launches on STARZ, opening a new chapter in the S.W.A.T. franchise on September 25.
The 10-episode spinoff brings Hondo back from forced retirement after a high-profile mission goes wrong. This time, however, he is not returning to his old squad. Instead, he is tasked with building an experimental S.W.A.T. unit from a group of young recruits who are talented but inexperienced and difficult to manage.
The premiere episode, “Clean Entry,” begins Season 1 and puts Hondo in an unfamiliar position: rebuilding a team while trying to deal with the personal and professional fallout of his past.
Hondo Gets a New S.W.A.T. Team
S.W.A.T. Exiles changes the formula of the original series by making Hondo the veteran surrounded by a new generation of recruits.
The official premise has Hondo leading a last-chance experimental unit made up of “untested, unpredictable” young officers. His challenge is not simply training them for dangerous missions. He also has to bridge a generational divide and turn a group of outsiders into a functioning team capable of protecting Los Angeles and helping save the S.W.A.T. program.
That setup gives the spinoff a different dynamic from the CBS series, which concluded after eight seasons in 2025. Rather than simply continuing Hondo’s old story, Exiles puts him in a new environment where his leadership style is tested by recruits who do not necessarily share his experience or approach.
Showrunner Jason Ning has described the series as carrying the DNA of the original while intentionally feeling like a different show. The new recruits were conceived as characters who have been overlooked or written off and now have to prove themselves under Hondo’s leadership.
What Is S.W.A.T. Exiles About?
The story begins after a fatal mission leaves Hondo’s career in S.W.A.T. behind. He is subsequently pulled back into the program and given an opportunity to rebuild a new unit.
The new team includes Adain Bradley, Lucy Barrett, Zyra Gorecki, Freddy Miyares and Ronen Rubinstein, who play Malik Henderson, Samantha “Sammy” Bishop, Cassidy Han, Ethan Cole and Jude Callan, respectively.
The series also brings Hondo into a darker stage of his personal life. Recent reporting has indicated that the story will address his divorce, the death of his mother and his separation from members of his former team. His return to S.W.A.T. therefore becomes more than another assignment — it is also part of a personal attempt to find a new direction.
The new series is not completely disconnected from the original show. Former S.W.A.T. characters are expected to appear, with Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay and Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks confirmed for the premiere.
S.W.A.T. Exiles Already Has a Season 2
One of the biggest developments surrounding S.W.A.T. Exiles happened before viewers even saw the premiere.
Sony Pictures Television renewed the series for a second season ahead of its September 25 debut. Shemar Moore publicly announced the renewal in August, saying production would begin in the following months.
The early renewal means the franchise already has a confirmed continuation while its first season is getting underway.
For viewers, that also removes one immediate question surrounding the spinoff: Hondo’s new story is not currently being introduced as a one-season experiment. The character’s journey will continue into another season.
S.W.A.T. Exiles Episode 1 and Season 1 Schedule
The first episode, “Clean Entry,” premieres September 25. STARZ’s schedule lists the episode at midnight ET on September 26, while the series premiere has been promoted for Friday, September 25 in its U.S. launch schedule.
Season 1 is scheduled to run for 10 episodes, with new installments following weekly.
The currently listed schedule is:
- Episode 1 — “Clean Entry” — September 25
- Episode 2 — “Not One But Two” — October 2
- Episode 3 — “The Project” — October 9
- Episode 4 — “Hate Crime” — October 16
- Episode 5 — “Edgemount” — October 23
- Episode 6 — “Molotov Cocktail Attire” — October 30
- Episode 7 — “Take the Shot” — November 6
- Episode 8 — “The Vault” — November 13
- Episode 9 — “Burn Zone” — November 20
- Episode 10 — “Hard Exit” — November 27
With Season 2 already ordered, S.W.A.T. Exiles now has room to develop its new team beyond the first 10 episodes while keeping Hondo at the center of the franchise.
