The team behind S.W.A.T. Exiles opens up about how the mega-hit Top Gun: Maverick inspired the show's take. Surviving cancellation for a third time, it was announced in May that the world of S.W.A.T. would continue with the spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles. Lead star Shemar Moore is set to reprise his role as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr. for the project. However, rather than reunite with his former castmates, Moore will be joined by a new cast of characters. Sony Pictures Television, which produces the action drama franchise, has yet to announce a home for the spinoff.
In a recent interview with Variety, Sony Pictures TV President Katherine Pope was asked to shed some light on the creative direction of the surprise spinoff and the decision to bring on Lucifer's Jason Ning as showrunner and executive producer. In the quote below, Pope talks about why original series creator Shawn Ryan is not involved with the spinoff and explains how the $1.4 billion-grossing sequel Top Gun: Maverick influences the story:
As with anything he’s ever involved with, [Original Films’] Neal Moritz was hustling the heck out of this from the jump. So with Neal and [fellow EP] Pavun [Shetty], we started talking in real time. As those conversations were happening with Neil and Pavun, they were happening with Shemar. Shemar, rightly so, was like, “this is intriguing, but I’ve got to know what it is. What’s the show and what’s the idea behind it?”
Obviously, first we went to [“S.W.A.T.” creator] Shawn Ryan, but he’s not only busy producing our show “The Night Agent,” but he’s also now in an exclusive Netflix deal. So he wasn’t able to do it, but is so supportive of Shemar and the team. We talked to Jason, who we have a deal with. He dug in, and came back with a pitch that was so smart and fresh, keeping all the values of “S.W.A.T.,” but making it something new.
It’s a bit of a take on the culture generation clash of Gen X versus 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.” It’s kind of our take on “Top Gun Maverick.” How do you actually learn from each other? How do we build bridges around not just generational divides, but all forms of divide? There’s a lot of division going on in our world. If we just took some time to listen and to try and be part of a team, and what that really means, it would probably be better for all of us. Neal and Pavun loved it, then took it to Shemar, who absolutely loved it. And we were off to the races.
What Pope's Comments Mean For S.W.A.T. Exiles
The Spinoff Has Been Overshadowed By Controversy
So far, the spinoff has attracted controversy after the way it was announced. The project was unveiled mere hours after the S.W.A.T. series finale aired, with Sony Pictures TV wanting to have the spinoff ready for potential buyers at an event. As a result, long-time fans of the action drama felt Moore's large supporting cast was slighted. This was echoed by David Lim, who plays Victor Tan on S.W.A.T., and said he felt blindsided by the news.
The focus on the spinoff will begin to shift once more details are revealed about it, including Moore's potential co-stars. It's a different take for Hondo, who will be leading and clashing with a new team, but it is also influenced by some major trends that have left their mark across television.
Our Take On The Latest S.W.A.T. News
It Will Have To Be A Balance
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Source: Variety
