Shemar Moore on 'S.W.A.T. Exiles': Evolution, Not Departure

The universe of the popular procedural "S.W.A.T." expands with the Starz sequel series, "S.W.A.T. Exiles," which picks up two years after the original show's conclusion. Actor Shemar Moore, reprising his role as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, described the new series as an evolution that retains the history and core elements fans expect.

"S.W.A.T. Exiles" finds Hondo "exiled from the system" after being set up during a mission that resulted in the death of a young cadet he mentored, Nico Reyes. This event weighs heavily on him, introducing a significant internal struggle that Moore aims to explore. "I wanted him to have a little more internal struggle to get the prize of joy and happiness and heart and love," Moore explained in an interview with Decider. He noted that the series delves deeper into Hondo's personal life, including a divorce, the existence of his daughter Vivienne, and the loss of his mother, drawing parallels between Hondo's experiences and his own life.

Moore emphasized that the sequel series is not a complete break from its predecessor. "Even though it’s two years later, what I love is that this version of S.W.A.T. doesn’t let go of the history of what we know," he said. "This is just the evolution, this is just a new day of what’s happened. So nobody’s dead as far as the heroes that you remember."

Familiar faces will reappear to bridge the gap between the shows. Patrick St. Esprit's Robert Hicks, Hondo's former commander, plays a key role in Hondo's transition to a new iteration of S.W.A.T. and leading a new group of recruits. Moore also teased cameos from Jay Harrington's David “Deacon” Kay and David Lim's Victor Tan.

The new series introduces a fresh ensemble cast for the 44 Squad, including Lucy Barrett as Sammy, Zyra Gorecki as Cassidy, Adain Bradley as Malik, Freddy Miyares as Ethan, and Ronen Rubenstein as Jude. Moore described the new actors as "so interesting and they’re so different," and noted that while they are "Gen Z to a tilt," they bring a unique dynamic to the team. He admitted to being affectionately nicknamed "pops," "old head," "unc," and "coach" by the younger cast.

"There’s a lot of similarities, yet also differences" between the original and "S.W.A.T. Exiles," Moore stated, highlighting the potential for deeper character development. "You’re going to see a human, [the] empathetic side, [yet] still that heroic, badass side. But I like that we’re not so perfect."

Moore, who also serves as an executive producer on "S.W.A.T. Exiles," draws from his own life experiences for Hondo's character. He cited his upbringing in East Oakland, similar to Hondo's South L.A. roots, as a shared experience of coming from humble beginnings while striving to stay true to one's origins. He also shared personal reflections on the passing of his mother and the joy of raising his daughter, Frankie, stating, "I take those elements of my own life, my own experience, and I give that as much as I can, whether it’s in the writing or just in Hondo’s being."

Despite the added character depth, Moore assured that "S.W.A.T. Exiles" still delivers on the action. "Of course, S.W.A.T. Exiles still holds on to its signature of super cops chasing bad guys," he said, adding that the show now boasts "this heart and character element to where you really get endeared and engaged, and learn on a deeper level [about] the characters of who we’re playing."

New episodes of "S.W.A.T. Exiles" are available on Starz, with the first three episodes already streaming.