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‘S.W.A.T.’ Canceled (Again) By CBS After 8 Seasons; Showrunner Calls News “Heartbreaking”
By Nellie Andreeva
S.W.A.T. has run out of lives. CBS has canceled the police drama starring Shemar Moore, now in its eighth season that will wrap in May.
If you are having a case of déjà vu, that is because, following a string of early renewals, S.W.A.T. was dramatically canceled in May 2023 after six seasons, only for CBS to reverse the decision days later with a pickup of what was announced at the time as a seventh and final season. Flash-forward to May 2024 when S.W.A.T. surprisingly was renewed for an eighth season.
Don’t expect another miraculous reprieve; this time the decision is believed to be final — and permanent.
During the past two years, S.W.A.T. lead studio Sony Pictures Television was able to propose financial terms that were appealing to CBS, sealing eleventh-hour pickups. This time, I hear, CBS did not engage in renewal talks, opting instead to end the long-running series outright.
This is the third high-profile drama cancellation at the network this week, following the axing of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. All three come from outside studios, Sony TV and Universal Television.
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Drama cancellations were inevitable this year as CBS already has two drama slots reserved on next season’s schedule for new series Sheriff Country, a spinoff from Fire Country, and Boston Blue, an extension of the Blue Bloods universe. It also has potential FBI and Equalizer spinoffs in the works and drama pilot Einstein starring Matthew Gray Gubler.
A mass renewal last month left the FBI spinoffs, S.W.A.T. and Equalizer on the bubble. Of the four, only Equalizer, from Universal TV, is still standing, with talks for a sixth and potentially final season underway. (Midseason entry Watson, from CBS Studios, is still in its first weeks on the air but is looking promising for renewal.)
As Deadline reported at the time of the renewals, given its history, S.W.A.T. was an obvious candidate for cancellation as it is lower rated than the other dramas on the bubble this year — including the FBI spinoffs. But it still has been a sturdy performer with the thankless job of keeping the lights on Friday.
“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. executive producer/showrunner Andrew Dettmann said. “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. I feel so privileged to have been a part of the S.W.A.T. family.”
S.W.A.T. is a rare broadcast drama filming in Los Angeles. Following the cancellation, executive producer and former showrunner Shawn Ryan spoke of the series’ crew that will now be out of work.
“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,” he 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.”
Speaking with Deadline in January, Ryan shared concerns over the fate of S.W.A.T. in light of the pending ownership change at CBS.
“The show I think is beloved in the executive ranks at CBS, the show is beloved by our audience,” he said at the time. “But we also understand that a corporate change is happening in that world. I don’t know what the plans are. I don’t know what the criteria for renewal is going to be. It seems like it could be much different than years past.”
He referred to the pending acquisition of CBS parent Paramount Global by Skydance, which is slated to close in the first half of the year.
S.W.A.T. is based on the 1975 TV series and 2003 film of the same name. It stars Moore as LAPD Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson and his Twenty Squad. The cast also includes Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Niko Pepaj and Annie Ilonzeh.
Ryan, Dettmann, Justin Lin, Neal H. Moritz, Marney Hochman, Pavun Shetty, Billy Gierhart, Moore and James Scura executive produce.
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S.W.A.T and FBI are both favorite shows of mine. Why they are being canceled does not make sence. Chicago shows will now get my attention.
You suck CBS, SWAT is a great show and you are killing it again. I hope a streaming service picks it up. You cancel good shows like SWAT, NCIS Hawaii, Bob ❤ Abishola, Blue Bloods and keep crap like Survivor on. Only good show you have left is NCIS. I wish your network nothing but crap. Guess I’ll be streaming more re-runs now.
Swat can not be cancelled!
Please it’s my favorite show
CBS you suck!!!!
Just lost a long time watcher, I’ll be watching anything but your stations from here on our!! First FBI’s cancelled now SWAT!! Unf***ing believable!! They all could have been put in during the times your so called NEW shows were taking a break!!!!!!
Two great FBI shows were cx’d yesterday, and now another CBS show that I think had lots of fans. Maybe this is just a money thing?
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US TV series cancelled for third time – but this time it’s ‘permanent’
The show’s luck has run out
CBS has swung the axe on yet another TV series after what has become a brutal week at the network.
Days after announcing that FBI spin-offs FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International would be drawing to a close with their current seasons, the network has revealed its axed SWAT – for the third time.
The series, which stars Shemar Moore and focuses on the Los Angeles Police Department, was previously cancelled in 2023 and 2024, but received surprise renewals.
However, the show’s luck has run out with Deadline reporting this latest cancellation is “permanent”.
The 2024 decision was believed to be an unceremonious one made due to budget concerns, without alerting the show’s creators Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and The Shield’s Shawn Ryan.
After the duo and their producing team spoke with the network, SWAT was renewed for a seventh season, with an eighth following in 2024.
The news follows what has been a bloodbath at CBS this week, with FBI fans left distraught over the sudden end of Most Wanted and International.
Fortunately, the shows have a few episodes left to shoot, so will receive series finales as opposed to ending on a cliffhanger, which was a fate suffered by the cancelled NCIS: Hawaii in May 2024.
The reason for the glut of axings is reportedly due to an influx of new shows, including a Blue Bloods spin-off starring lead Donnie Wahlberg and a fresh FBI spin-off titled FBI: CIA.
FBI fans aren’t happy with the development.
“I knew one would be cancelled to make way for FBI:CIA but thought they’d keep one,” a viewer said, with another angrily adding: WHAT THE F*** CBS?? WE DON’T WANT A NEW SPINOFF. WE WANT THE SHOWS AND CHARACTERS WE ALREADY LOVE.”
An additional fan concurred: “No one asked for another FBI spin off, no one wanted this,” with another stating on X/Twitter: “Did anyone even ask for an FBI: CIA? Anyone?”
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