‘S.W.A.T. Exiles’ Trailer: Shemar Moore’s Hondo Is Out For One Last Shot At Redemption In Starz Spinoff
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Starz has released the trailer for "S.W.A.T. Exiles", the redemption-themed spinoff of its long-running police drama, ahead of a 25 September premiere. Shemar Moore reprises his role as LAPD Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, who is forced out of his old S.W.A.T. unit after a botched raid kills a young operator, before his former commanding officer, Robert Hicks, offers him a chance at redemption by building an entirely new team.
The newly revealed footage fleshes out the "Exiles" squad Hondo assembles from LA's overlooked talent: gun-show influencer Sammy Bishop, tactical savant Ethan Cole, guarded newcomer Cassidy Reed, troubled wildcard Jude Callan and ambitious operative Malik Anderson. As the team confronts cartel assassins and gun-runners, Hondo uncovers an internal leak suggesting powerful figures want S.W.A.T. replaced with a more private, less accountable force, building to a season-ending reckoning. The Sony Pictures Television series is run by showrunner Jason Ning, with Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Moore himself, James Scura and Jon Cowan among the executive producers.
- Starz's "S.W.A.T. Exiles" trailer confirms 25 September premiere date
- Shemar Moore's Hondo builds new squad after fatal botched raid
- Plot hints at conspiracy to replace S.W.A.T. with unaccountable alternative
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The trailer's release nods to the show's origins: "S.W.A.T." has run on CBS since 2017, itself a reboot of a 1970s series, following an elite Los Angeles police tactical unit. "Exiles" is a spin-off for the streaming service Starz, moving Shemar Moore's long-running character Hondo away from his old unit and into a fresh setup, giving newcomers a way into the story without needing to have watched the original show.
Hondo has been the emotional centre of "S.W.A.T." throughout its run, a sergeant balancing loyalty to his community with the demands of high-risk policing. In this spin-off he is pushed out of his former team after a raid goes wrong, and is given the chance to build a new unit from officers others have overlooked, which sets up the season's central story of trust, accountability and second chances.
The series matters partly as a test of whether a long-running network procedural can find a new audience on a subscription platform, and partly because its plot leans into real debates about policing, oversight and the privatisation of law enforcement functions. It comes from Sony Pictures Television, with several producers from the original show involved, signalling continuity for existing fans even as it targets viewers unfamiliar with the franchise.
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