Annie Ilonzeh is the latest S.W.A.T. alum to address the new spinoff after viewers questioned why most of the cast wasn’t coming back.
“Last day to my VERY first day of S.W.AT. Season 8 and few pics in between,” Ilonzeh, 41, recently wrote via Instagram alongside photos from the set. “Words cannot fully express how much I LOVE this group of people: truly the best cast and crew (one post isn’t enough to show everyone!).”
Ilonzeh acknowledged she was still frustrated by the cancellation.
“I wish we could go on and feel we should but life just doesn’t work that way, does it..? It stings. We had more to give,” she noted. “But I’m EXCITED for the hundreds of crew who will continue to work, especially in Los Angeles.”
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The actress took time to credit her costar David Lim, adding, “You kept hope and our voices alive and I truly believe your influence and leadership made an incredible amount of noise. What an honor to work with such an amazing teammate.”
Ilonzeh concluded: “20-Squad, y’all are FOREVER my family. Such a talented and beautiful group of people I got to share memories and the stage with. Always got your six.”
CBS viewers know Ilonzeh as Devin Gamble, whom she has played since season 8. Her time on the show was cut short when CBS canceled the series in March.
“This show is so damn good. I’m talking about the things that happened in front of the camera that you guys experienced, the things that happened behind the camera — all of it as a whole. It is such a bummer [but] we’re still fighting,” Ilonzeh exclusively told Us Weekly in April. “But we’re making noise. They do see it — producers and streamers that are interested — they are like, ‘OK, this is something.’ So if we can plug and play, we’re all geared up to go. We don’t want this ride to be over.”
S.W.A.T. wrapped up its run in May, and two days later, Sony Pictures Television announced a spinoff titled S.W.A.T. Exiles starring Moore, 55, and a new cast. The decision was met with backlash since Lim, 41, Ilonzeh, Jay Harrington, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch and Niko Pepaj also took part in efforts to revive the series.
Moore stood by the decision, saying in a June Instagram 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. 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.”
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He continued: “I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady, but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. 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.”
Lim, who was with the show since season 1, was the first cast member to officially break his silence on the 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 via Instagram in May. “After eight 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.”
Earlier this month, Harrington, 53, showed support for Moore but admitted he had no idea there was anything in development.
“[I found out about S.W.A.T. Exiles] the day before. Shemar reached out to all of us to say, ‘This is what’s going on,’” he revealed to TV Line. “There’s talk that they’ll reach out to us about stuff. He wanted to be the one to tell us, and say ‘Your reps will find out shortly.’ That’s when I told my reps, and they had no idea.”
