As S.W.A.T. gears up for its highly anticipated Season 8 winter premiere on January 31, the future of the long-running CBS action series remains up in the air. Despite defying cancellation twice and earning an unexpected renewal, there’s still no official word on whether the show will return for a ninth season.
A Series That Refuses to Quit
Starring Shemar Moore, Jay Harrington, David Lim, and Patrick St. Esprit, S.W.A.T. has built a loyal fanbase and established itself as CBS’s second-longest-running scripted series currently on air. While CBS has not officially labeled Season 8 as the final chapter, the show has flirted with cancellation repeatedly — most recently in 2023 and again in 2024 — only to be revived each time in dramatic fashion.
The most recent resurrection came in May 2024, when CBS reversed its decision and greenlit Season 8 just days after initially pulling the plug. Executive producer Shawn Ryan attributes the series’ resilience to its popularity both among viewers and within the CBS executive team.
“The show is beloved at CBS. Our audience loves it,” Ryan shared in a recent interview. “Creatively, I’m proud to say it’s still going strong.”
Leadership Shifts and Consistent Quality
Ryan, who served as showrunner until Season 7, handed the reins over to Andy Dettman — a transition he says has maintained, if not elevated, the show’s quality. “I’m happy and somewhat embarrassed to say, it hasn’t dropped a step,” Ryan noted.
Still, he acknowledged that looming corporate changes may influence what comes next. With Skydance, led by David Ellison, in the process of acquiring CBS’s parent company Paramount Global, the landscape for show renewals is more uncertain than ever.
“There’s a corporate shift happening,” Ryan said. “I don’t know what the new criteria will be for renewing shows, but it seems likely it won’t be the same as in years past.”
Production Deals and Behind-the-Scenes Economics
S.W.A.T. is produced by Sony Pictures Television in partnership with CBS Studios. The involvement of an outside studio has historically complicated renewal discussions. In 2023, Sony reportedly found cost-effective ways to keep the show in production, allowing it to stay in Los Angeles and continue meeting CBS’s budgetary demands.
This outside partnership, while essential to the show’s survival so far, may become a double-edged sword depending on how the new ownership views economics and licensing deals.
“I don’t know if it’s an advantage or disadvantage that we’re produced by an outside studio this year,” Ryan admitted. “Economics are going to play into things, so it’s all uncertain. But we’re focused on making the best show we can, and we’ll see where the chips fall.”
As of now, no renewal talks between CBS and Sony have officially begun.
Shemar Moore Still Fighting for the Future
Shemar Moore, the heart and soul of the show as Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, isn’t ready to call it quits. In a passionate November 2024 interview, the actor made it clear he hopes the show runs for years to come.
“Everybody at S.W.A.T. wants Season 13,” Moore said. “We’ve been canceled twice and uncanceled twice. I give credit to running my mouth on social media. Nothing lasts forever, but I fight.”
Moore has been instrumental in rallying fan support online, which has played a key role in the show’s dramatic renewals. His advocacy and the show’s enduring popularity have created a rare phenomenon in modern television — a series that refuses to die quietly.
Looking Ahead
As CBS prepares to air the second half of Season 8, the network remains tight-lipped about what lies beyond. Renewal decisions are expected sometime in spring 2025, after the Skydance-Paramount deal is finalized. Until then, the cast, crew, and fans will continue doing what they’ve always done — showing up, tuning in, and hoping for more.
No matter what the future holds, S.W.A.T. has carved out a legacy as a show that punches above its weight, outlasts the odds, and continues to deliver high-stakes action with heart.
