Hondo’s Back, But It’s Not Just a Reunion: A First Look at the Gritty 'S.W.A.T. Exiles'

Move over, retirement; Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson is officially trading his beach chair for a tactical vest. Sony Pictures Television just dropped the first look at S.W.A.T. Exiles, and if the promotional stills are any indication, the franchise is ditching the polished, procedural sheen of the original for something a lot more rugged and significantly more stressed out.

After years of leading the elite 20-Squad, Shemar Moore is returning to the role that made him the king of the tactical "liquid-look" shirt. But don't expect the same old playbook. This isn't just a Season 8 extension with a facelift; S.W.A.T. Exiles looks like the adrenaline-fueled, slightly dysfunctional younger sibling the franchise didn't know it needed.

A Darker Shade of Hondo

The newly released images from Sony confirm what the rumors suggested: Hondo has been pulled out of forced retirement to lead an experimental unit. In the first shot, Moore looks less like a man ready to serve and more like a man who really misses his weekend naps. He’s seen in full gear, but the setting isn't a high-tech LAPD command center—it’s a grimy, "off-the-books" base of operations that screams "minimal budget, maximum danger."

While Hondo remains the gravitational center of this universe, the "Exiles" are the real draw here. The photos introduce a squad of "untested and unpredictable" recruits played by Lucy Barrett, Adain Bradley, Zyra Gorecki, Freddy Miyares, and Ronen Rubinstein. Judging by the collective scowls in the group shot, Hondo isn't exactly dealing with the Valedictorians of the Academy. These are the washouts, the rebels, and the "too-hot-to-handle" officers who have been sidelined by the system.

Courtesy of Sony

Familiar Faces and New Stakes

Fans of the original series can breathe a sigh of relief (and maybe a little cheer). The first look confirms that while the setting is new, the DNA remains intact. Stills and production reports verify that Deacon (Jay Harrington) and Victor Tan (David Lim) will be making appearances, likely to help Hondo realize that his new team is, in fact, a total nightmare to manage.

The vibe of the series, captured by director Billy Gierhart, leans heavily into the "Exiles" title. Everything from the lighting to the costume design feels more like a prestige cable thriller than a standard network procedural. It’s gritty, it’s sweaty, and it feels like the stakes are personal rather than just "stop the bank robber of the week."

What We Know About the Launch

Currently, the series is in a bit of a "will they, won't they" situation regarding its home. Sony has wrapped production on the 10-episode first season and is currently shopping it to networks and streamers. Given the massive global footprint of the S.W.A.T. brand, it’s only a matter of time before someone swipes right on this project.

The first look has certainly done its job: it’s stirred the pot, proved that Shemar Moore still looks better in a tactical vest than most people look in a tuxedo, and promised a version of S.W.A.T. that isn't afraid to get its hands dirty.

Whether these recruits can actually follow an order or if Hondo will regret leaving his patio remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: the S.W.A.T. universe just got a whole lot more interesting.

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