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.
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.
