‘S.W.A.T. Exiles’ Begins Production as Shemar Moore Appears in First Cast Photo: ‘Bigger, Better and Edgier’

Shemar Moore is suiting back up as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.

On Thursday, Oct. 9, Sony Pictures Television revealed that S.W.A.T. Exiles — the spinoff series of CBS cop drama S.W.A.T. — has begun production in Los Angeles. And Sony is now offering a behind-the-scenes first look at the S.W.A.T. Exile cast in uniform.

The announcement, which arrives before the series is showcased at MIPCOM CANNES, also featured a statement from Moore, 55.

“Get ready for S.W.A.T. 2.0! After eight incredible years of defying the odds and entertaining the world, we’re about to take the franchise to a whole new level — bigger, better, and edgier,” Moore said.

“With a fresh cast and a darker, more intense Hondo, we’re ready to bring this story to life and show you what we’ve created together. Thanks to the fans and Sony for keeping us alive, you won’t want to miss what’s next!”

Showrunner Jason Ning called being back on set “electric,” less than five months after the eight-season original series came to an end on CBS in May.

“You can feel the creative energy shift. We’re honoring what made S.W.A.T. great while reinventing it through this scrappier, more character-driven lens,” Ning said. “The new cast came in hungry, the crew’s firing on all cylinders, and it already feels like Exiles has its own heartbeat.”

In addition to Moore, Exiles is set to feature Jay Harrington and Patrick St. Esprit returning in the first episode as they reprise the roles of Sergeant David ‘Deacon’ Kay and Commander Robert Hicks, respectively. Joining the S.W.A.T. universe are Lucy Barrett (Charmed), Adain Bradley (Warfare), Zyra Gorecki (La Brea), Freddy Miyares (When They See Us), and Ronen Rubinstein (9-1-1: Lone Star).

In a behind-the-scenes snap from the production, Moore and his new castmates can be seen smiling arm-in-arm as they kick things off in Los Angeles.

Per a logline, the spinoff follows a “last-chance experimental SWAT unit” that’s “made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits.” When a high-profile mission goes sideways, Moore’s Hondo gets pulled out of retirement to lead this new team.  The series follows the events of S.W.A.T., which ended with Hondo being forced to retire.

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Sony Pictures Television president Katherine Pope previously told Variety in May that the show would be exploring “the generation clash of” Gen X and Gen Z.

“Where Hondo is all about duty, hierarchy and chain of command, the Gen Zers are a little more like, ‘I might need to take a mental health day. I want to talk about it. I want to understand it,’ ” she said. “It’s kind of our take on Top Gun Maverick.”

Deadline first reported in June that Sony Pictures Television announced the series without signing a broadcasting company for distribution. The S.W.A.T. reboot, based on the original 1975 series, debuted on CBS in 2017.

Per Sony, Exiles will feature Ning as showrunner and executive producer, while Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty of Original Film, Moore, James Scura, and Jon Cowan will also executive produce. The series is set for 10 episodes.