S.W.A.T. is not going anywhere after all. After getting canceled — TWICE — the series has been officially renewed for an eighth season, now with no end in sight.
Initially, S.W.A.T. was canceled after six seasons at CBS, resulting in some heavy fan backlash on social media. That led to the network reversing course by renewing S.W.A.T. for Season 7, which was announced at the time to serve as the final season of the series. Ahead of what was intended to be the series finale, however, it's now been announced (per TVLine) that S.W.A.T. has been renewed for Season 8.
Additionally, there have not been any mentions of Season 8 planned as a final season in the way Season 7 had been promoted when it was announced. This would suggest that CBS sees potential in keeping the series around for even longer than its upcoming eighth season. It's certainly fantastic news for the viewers who still see great potential in the future of the series, even seven seasons into S.W.A.T. on the network.
“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.,” Amy Reisenbach, the president of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement to confirm the renewal. “The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our amazing writers and producers who keep the show relevant and action-packed. We’re very pleased to renew it again and incredibly grateful to our partners at Sony, CBS Studios and Shemar for working so closely with us to bring it back for next season.”
Co-showrunner Shawn Ryan added, "It’s a privilege to get to deliver more S.W.A.T. stories to our incredible fans. This Season 8 pickup is a testament to our showrunner Andy Dettmann, Shemar Moore, the rest of our talented cast and our dedicated crew who continue to produce television that resonates with so many people. We’re grateful to CBS, Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios for the opportunity.”
S.W.A.T. Has Been Saved and Has Gotten Stronger
When the series was initially canceled, star Shemar Moore was very vocal about his disappointment. He said at the time that the decision "makes no sense," frustrated how CBS would end the network's "most diverse show," along with the series that featured the "only African American male lead on network television." With the latest renewal news revealed, Moore shared a statement of his own to express his gratitude for the fans in getting vocal online with their support, leading to the series sticking around.
"S.W.A.T. IS BACK! BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I am so proud of this show and the people and variables it has taken to make this show what it is and has become," he said. "I am so grateful to the fans around the world who have supported, watched, enjoyed and rooted for S.W.A.T.! It is entirely because of this support that S.W.A.T. will continue to shine!"
CBS has also renewed other shows like NCIS, NCIS: Sydney, Ghosts, Tracker, The Neighborhood, and all three FBI shows. NCIS: Hawai'i, The Equalizer, Elsbeth, So Help Me Todd, and CSI: Vegas remain on the bubble.
