Shemar Moore is back in uniform. The actor returns as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in the new Starz spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles, which premiered on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The 10-episode series puts Hondo in charge of a squad of outcasts called 44 Squad, but the streets are not his biggest problem. A mole is hiding in his own ranks, and a conspiracy is reaching into the highest levels of the LAPD and the Mayor’s office.
Hondo Returns After Two Years Away
The series picks up two years after Hondo was forced out of the LAPD. A botched raid led to the death of a young operator named Nico Reyes, and when Hondo refused to hide the truth about what happened, the department pushed him into retirement. He spent that time working private security, staying away from the job that defined his life.
His old commander, Robert Hicks (played by Patrick St. Esprit), brings him back with an offer. Hondo gets one last chance to run an experimental S.W.A.T. unit built from the department’s most overlooked officers. If the unit fails, the entire S.W.A.T. program could be shut down.
“The job still matters. I want you back at SWAT,” Hicks tells Hondo in the trailer.
Meet the 44 Squad
The new unit is a mix of personalities that should not work on paper. Hondo’s recruits include Sammy Bishop (Lucy Barrett), a gun-show influencer with something to prove; Ethan Cole (Freddy Miyares), a socially awkward tactical savant; Cassidy Reed (Zyra Gorecki), a guarded officer determined to earn her place; Jude Callan (Ronen Rubinstein), a wildcard with a troubled past; and Malik Anderson (Adain Bradley), who is sharp, ambitious, and hiding more than anyone realizes.
The first episode, titled “Clean Entry,” shows Hondo trying to shape these five officers into a real team. Tensions flare early during physical trials and mock hostage exercises. A communication breakdown leads to a direct confrontation between Hondo and Malik over Hondo’s testing methods. Hondo even reaches out to his old teammate David “Deacon” Kay (Jay Harrington) for advice on how to lead this new group.
“They are a bunch of rugrats who are not prepared at all to take on life-and-death situations as S.W.A.T. members,” Moore told TV Guide. “Hondo’s dilemma is he doesn’t know who to trust”.
A Threat Bigger Than the Streets
The squad gets no time to settle in. Cartel assassins surface in Los Angeles almost immediately, and the team clicks under fire faster than anyone expected. But behind closed doors, one of Hondo’s own has already made a promise to someone else, and it has nothing to do with protecting S.W.A.T..
Hondo soon uncovers a mole in his ranks. Someone has been feeding information to outside interests, and the conspiracy goes beyond his unit. Powerful figures are working to tear S.W.A.T. apart from within and replace it with a private, less accountable force.
“There’s a mole on it, and he says he’s going to ‘smoke the traitor out… and make him pay,’” the trailer reveals.
The premiere leaves viewers with a clear question: who in the 44 Squad is betraying Hondo, and how far up does the conspiracy go? The show’s creator, Jason Ning, said the goal was to show audiences a Hondo they have never seen before.
A Darker Tone for a New Chapter
Moving from CBS to Starz allowed the creative team to change the tone of the show. Moore described the new series as darker and grittier than the original. “It’s still the same song,” he told TV Guide. “Hondo’s world is a little darker and not so easy. There’s a more human element”.
The premiere also features returning characters from the original series. Jay Harrington returns as Deacon Kay, and David Lim appears as Tan.
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Where to Watch Around the World
S.W.A.T. Exiles premiered on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET on Starz in the United States. New episodes stream weekly on Fridays on the Starz app and all Starz platforms. The first season has 10 episodes, running through Nov. 27, 2026.
International viewers can watch through local platforms. Sky and Sky New Zealand carry the show in parts of Europe and New Zealand. Stan is the Australian home for the series, though an exact Australian premiere date has not been announced. Disney+ streams the show across Latin America. LG Uplus carries it in South Korea, and AXN airs it in Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. beIN broadcasts it across the Middle East.
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Starz renewed the series for a second season in August 2026, more than a month before the premiere.
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