S.W.A.T. will not return for a ninth season.
CBS canceled the long-running action drama for a third time Thursday, March 6, per The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
“It’s heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of,” S.W.A.T. showrunner and executive producer Andrew Dettmann said in a statement. “They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can’t give them enough credit.”
“It’s been an extraordinary privilege to work on S.W.A.T. for eight seasons and tell the stories of Hondo and 20-Squad,” executive producer Shawn Ryan said. “I thank our fans, Shemar Moore, the rest of our cast, our producers, Sony Pictures Television, CBS Studios and CBS for the opportunity. Most of all I want to thank our tireless, dedicated crew who made our writers, directors and cast always look good. My greatest concern right now is for them.”
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CBS previously canceled S.W.A.T. after its sixth season in 2023, however, the network later reversed its decision and renewed the show for a seventh run, which it said would be its last. In May 2024, the network surprised fans again by renewing the Shemar Moore-fronted drama for season 8.
This time, however, the cancellation is possibly “for good,” Moore, 54, said via Instagram Thursday, reacting to the news.
In a video shared with his followers, Moore said of the cancellation: “It sucks. It’s sad.”
Moore said that he gave a speech to the show’s crew Thursday to break the news.
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“Uncanceled twice, two years in a row,” Moore said in the video. “Canceled. Uncanceled. Now, I don’t know my history, but how many shows get to say that? I’m gonna say none.”
“I had to give a speech today to my crew and say, ‘Hey, we’re done,’” Moore continued. “[I told the crew] there’s nothing I can say to make this sound nice, good, optimistic — nothing. But I said, ‘Be proud. Be proud because we defied the odds, and we made a hit television show that the world loved to watch.’”
Moore added, “I say to CBS, if you’re done — I know it’s about money, optics, politics — I don’t think you’re making the right decision. But if you are done, I say thank you, genuinely, honestly,” he went on, noting that he’s worked for CBS for the majority of his 31-year career, including roles on S.W.AT., Young and the Restless and Criminal Minds.
