Shemar Moore ‘Not Going to Apologize’ About ‘S.W.A.T.’ Spinoff as Questions Loom About OG Cast Involvement
Shemar Moore pulled off an epic save once again, as it was announced that S.W.A.T. would be getting a spinoff called S.W.A.T. Exiles after the show’s cancellation on CBS after eight seasons.
There’s been some discourse online about the spinoff announcement not including any other OG cast members other than Shemar, 55.
“I’ll admit I’m excited but at the same time I’m hoping the rest of the cast gets the chance to be involved….would love to see the whole team back,” one person commented on Shemar’s Instagram, while another said, “That is great news!! please bring some of the old team back at least Deacon and Tan.”
He took to Instagram to address chatter about the upcoming show and casting on Tuesday, May 20.
“I might catch some flack from the industry with what I’m about to say and most likely from the fans,” he said in the video. “Nobody likes change. I understand that. I get it 100 percent. But without change, you can’t grow. You can’t win without taking your lumps. S.W.A.T. Exiles, baby, we won the battle. We won the battle because we showed up for eight years strong, together, a team. … It ain’t easy making it in the game of Hollywood. It ain’t. TV shows don’t last eight years anymore. The game has changed. But S.W.A.T. Exiles, baby! S.W.A.T. Exiles. Bigger, bolder. S.W.A.T. on steroids.”
The Criminal Minds alum said that he is “so excited and grateful to the world” for “tuning in” to S.W.A.T. and thanked everyone for rallying behind the show for eight seasons.
He revealed that the spinoff, which is being spearheaded by Sony Pictures TV Studios, will begin shooting this summer.
“I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady, but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T.,” Shemar added. “That’s not arrogant. That’s not ego. It’s a fact. I’m the quarterback. I’m Shemar Moore a.k.a. Hondo. But I had a squad. A strong squad. A family. A team. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say out loud to the world and to them — because I know they’re watching this — I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you.”
He shouted out some of his cast members and the characters they played, and said that the CBS show was “a movie made for TV.”
“That’s my family for life. Just like in sports, Tom Brady might be the quarterback, but people get traded. Tight ends get traded, the running back gets traded, the receivers get traded … but the team keeps on pushing with their quarterback, and I’m that guy,” Shemar added. “So proud, so grateful. I’m not going to apologize for nothing. Busted my ass for 31 years to do what I do, and excited about the future.”
“I’m excited that S.W.A.T. gets to keep playing ball,” he said. “I’m excited that the crew gets to put food on their table and money in their accounts, and go to soccer practice and put their kids through the right schools. Saving jobs, working here in L.A., keeping Hollywood in L.A. This is a big deal. Yeah, a little bit bittersweet in some ways — but man, at the end of the day, we got to be so proud. We got to be so proud because we did the damn thing. The world took notice. And the industry took notice.”
S.W.A.T. was previously canceled and uncanceled twice before by CBS, with fans previously rallying to save the show then. However, with the show’s spinoff on the horizon, season 8 of S.W.A.T. seems to be the end of the original series as we know it.
“Shows get canceled all the time, but S.W.A.T. just won’t die because y’all love S.W.A.T. You all love that crazy action. You love the stories,” Shemar concluded. “You love the brotherhood, the sisterhood, all of that. That’s who we are. That’s who S.W.A.T. is. Thrill ride with heart. So, on this day, we celebrate, but we pay homage to what got us there and to the people that got us there, and I will never forget. Always appreciate, and always show love.”
