JUST like members of the elite police unit, the TV series S.W.A.T has a penchant for seemingly dodging the bullet. The action-packed series which premiered in 2017 and follows the adventure of LAPD Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson and his band of hardened cops has beaten the odds by dodging cancellation, not once but twice!
CBS recently announced that the series, currently in its seventh season, will return for an eighth season with 22 episodes scheduled to premiere during fall 2024/2025. The renewal came as a surprise, especially considering the prior announcement that Season 7 would be the series finale.
Following the renewal announcement, theSun had a chance to speak exclusively with Shemar Moore, who stars as the series’s main lead and executive producer. During the interview, the father of one expressed his gratitude for the unexpected continuation and revealed how he maintained faith in the show.
“I’m so proud and excited. It’s like a miracle because I know what we just achieved is not normal. It doesn’t happen very often in the business,” Moore shared.
Pugilist attitude
“We were told that Season 7 was our last year and I told everybody, the cast, the writers, the crew that just like in boxing when you get punched in the gut when you take a knee, (the way my mother raised me was) you take a breath, you get up and you finish the fight and you might lose the fight. But what happens if you don’t lose the fight and you win, just never quit. And that’s what I told my show team,” he added.
Acknowledging that the continuation of the police drama means more work ahead, Moore opened up about the challenges faced during Season 7, emphasising the pressure to deliver exceptional episodes.
“We wanted to make a good show. We wanted to make 13 amazing episodes. So, this year, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We wanted the writers to write really strong stories. We wanted the actors to give their best performance and we wanted the crew to come to work, you know, thinking positive, optimistic that this is not the end. So we considered this year like a fight and we knew we might lose,” he explained.
Reclaiming their mojo
Looking ahead to the remaining episodes of Season 7, Moore teased that it would be even more impressive, offering bigger, crazier, and better content.
“Especially now that we have the good news of Season 8 coming, everybody can enjoy Season 7 because they know that it’s not officially over.”
Discussing the storyline, Moore revealed that viewers can expect to see Hondo’s team facing challenges.
“You’ll see Hondo’s team falling apart, with members like Chris, Street and Luca departing, and Deacon contemplating retirement. Hondo feels the weight of the situation, realising he can’t do it alone.
“Everything he’s fought for seems to be slipping away. But as you reach the final episode, you will witness the S.W.A.T. team reclaiming their mojo and swagger. It’s going to leave you feeling happy, excited and eager for more determination,” Moore said.
Reflecting on his connection to his character Sergeant Hondo, Moore appreciated the depth and evolution of the role since the series’ debut.
“I’ve always appreciated that Hondo has to prove himself every day. That pressure on Hondo also extends to me, as I aim to bring out the best in myself and my character. I appreciate that he’s a tough, badass guy like you don’t mess with Hondo.
“But there are also layers to him. He’s a family man, bumping heads with his father while striving for his approval. He deeply loves and cares for his mother, now he’s a husband and a father to a little girl. He fights tirelessly to take care of his team. Hondo isn’t perfect, and I like that about him. He’s evolved and grown, showing both his superhero side and his human flaws, and it’s fascinating to explore how he navigates through them.”
Fan support vital
As Season 8 approaches, Moore extends his gratitude to the fans of the series, acknowledging their support as instrumental in the show’s continuation.
“I have to say thank you to the fans all around the world. That they have found S.W.A.T. and enjoyed S.W.A.T. because without them showing up and giving us the numbers and making us trend on media and giving us the numbers week after week, we wouldn’t have been able to pull this off.
“And not only did we get uncancelled, but we got uncancelled twice, two years back-to-back, and that really is a testament to the fans,” he concluded.
S.W.A.T. airs Thursdays at 9.45pm on AXN.
