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In a shocking turn of events, SWAT has been renewed for season 8. The rebooted CBS procedural was originally supposed to conclude with season 7, with the final episode set to air on May 17. This came after CBS originally cancelled SWAT before reversing that decision to give the show a proper conclusion with its last 13 episodes.

Now, CBS has again reversed that decision, renewing SWAT for season 8. It is expected to be broadcast in the 2024-2025 season. Read the full response from Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, showrunners Andrew Dettmann and Shawn Ryan, and lead star Shemar Moore on that decision below:

Reisenbach : “Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.! The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our amazing writers and producers who keep the show relevant and action-packed. We’re very pleased to renew it again and incredibly grateful to our partners at SONY, CBS Studios and Shemar for working so closely with us to bring it back for next season.”

Ryan : “It’s a privilege to get to deliver more S.W.A.T. stories to our incredible fans. This season eight pickup is a testament to our showrunner Andy Dettmann, Shemar Moore, the rest of our talented cast and our dedicated crew who continue to produce television that resonates with so many people. We’re grateful to CBS, Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios for the opportunity.”

Dettmann : “All of us at S.W.A.T. are thrilled by the news of a season eight. Shemar and I had many conversations throughout the production of season seven, confident that if we continued to tell great stories punctuated by SWAT’s signature action, our amazing fans would stay with us, giving us a good shot at another season. At the end of the day, this is the well-deserved payoff for all the time, energy and effort put in by an incredible cast and crew working with the constant support of our partners at Sony Pictures Television and everyone at CBS. We look forward to an exciting season eight.”

Moore : “S.W.A.T. IS BACK! BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I am so proud of this show and the people and variables it has taken to make this show what it is and has become. I am so grateful to the fans around the world who have supported, watched, enjoyed and rooted for S.W.A.T.! It is entirely because of this support that S.W.A.T. will continue to shine! This is still a dream job for me … I love my S.W.A.T. crew, cast and writers and producers – we have made an incredible, fun, exciting, provocative and heartwarming show for the world to enjoy. Thank you to CBS and SONY for believing in S.W.A.T. and giving us this opportunity to shine!”

SWAT’s Season 8 Renewal Leaves Lots Of Lingering Questions
SWAT Season 7 Is No Longer The Last.

Despite all these questions, SWAT can at least celebrate its season 8 renewal, leaving more adventures for Hondo and his team in the LAPD.

Although season 7 was supposed to be the end, a few factors may have contributed to the unexpected renewal. The season 7 premiere opened with a promising 5.12 million viewers, an improvement from last season’s finale of 4.7 million viewers and season 6’s overall average of 5 million viewers. Furthermore, the latest season has been averaging 8.8 million viewers overall, which includes numbers from Paramount+ and the CBS app. This is an improvement from last season’s average by 11%.

With CBS confirming season 8, however, this leaves questions about future stories and how the hit show would address recent events in season 7. The latest episode, “Last Call,”marked Kenny Johnson’s exit from the series after playing Officer III+1 Dominique Luca. The character was forced to retire from duty after his injuries started to impact his ability to work in active combat. Before that, Alex Russell also left the show early in season 7, with his final appearance in “End of the Road.”

Given those exits, this leaves Moore’s Daniel Harrelson, Jay Harrington’s David Kay, and David Lim’s Victor Tan as the last original characters to remain in the series. It’s unclear where the show’s direction will take since it has yet to air the final episode, although Moore teased that the show would “stand triumphant” had season 7 remained the last. Furthermore, this poses questions of whether this opens the door to Russell and Johnson’s return despite what had transpired in recent episodes.

Furthermore, the latest update does not address whether season 8 would then serve as the official swan song. If the viewership success stands, it’s possible the show could continue beyond season 8. Despite all these questions, SWAT can at least celebrate its season 8 renewal, leaving more adventures for Hondo and his team in the LAPD.