“S.W.A.T.” star David Lim is voicing his disappointment that a spinoff is moving forward without involving him or most of his castmates.
It’s been a rocky road over the past few years for the law enforcement drama. CBS canceled “S.W.A.T.” after six seasons in 2023, but following an uproar from fans, reversed the decision and renewed the series for a seventh season. After Season 7 began airing, the network decided to extend it one more time before a final cancellation after Season 8. The series finale aired on May 16, and two days later, Sony Pictures Television announced that it would be producing a spinoff titled “S.W.A.T. Exiles.” (Neither CBS nor any other platform has agreed to air it yet.) Series lead Shemar Moore is currently the only cast member attached to “Exiles.”
That isn’t sitting right with Lim, who played officer Victor Tan for all eight seasons of the CBS drama.
“I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale—with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “After 8 incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition—for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.”
In his post, Lim also noted that the team “fought” to get “S.W.A.T.” renewed for Season 9: “We believed we still had more to give, more stories to tell. We wanted it for our crew, for each other, and for the newer faces just joining us. It wasn’t in the cards for all of us—and that’s okay.”
Multiple members of the “S.W.A.T.” team are backing Lim up. Actors Rochelle Aytes, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj all wrote comments of support, as did writer and co-producer Ryan Keleher and guest stars Emily Alabi and Coby Ryan McLaughlin.
In an interview with Variety, Sony Pictures Television president said there’s a chance other “S.W.A.T.” cast members will eventually join the spinoff: “It’s a universe. There is a clear world that we’re exploring here. We’re a few weeks in. We’re still putting it all together, but for sure, I think you can expect some of your favorites to be a part of it in some way,” she said. Regardless, it seems clear that Lim hasn’t gotten a call yet — and production is set to begin in August, according to Pope.
The official logline for “S.W.A.T. Exiles” reads, “After a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson (Moore) is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.”
Read the full text of Lim’s Instagram post below.
I’ve been sitting with everything that came out last week, and I just want to say this:
Being a part of S.W.A.T. for the past 8 seasons has been one of the great honors of my life. I poured my heart into playing Tan—and even more than that, into the team and friendships we built on and off screen.
What made S.W.A.T. special wasn’t just the action, or one character. It was the squad. The bond. The camaraderie. The shared blood, sweat, tears, and laughs we gave to every episode. That effortless chemistry was there from the very first day we came together for the pilot, and it carried through all 8 seasons.
I’m proud of how we fought for a ninth season. We believed we still had more to give, more stories to tell. We wanted it for our crew, for each other, and for the newer faces just joining us. It wasn’t in the cards for all of us—and that’s okay. We had a magical run and went out on a high note with those final two episodes.
I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale—with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one. After 8 incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition—for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.
I’ve seen the comments, the messages, the support—and it truly means a lot. I may not know what the future holds for Tan, but I couldn’t be more proud of what we created together—our cast, writers, producers, crew… our SWAT family. No version of this story can take that away.
Thanks for riding with us. Always.
Roll SWAT.
