S.W.A.T. has some exiles, both in their spinoff and in returning cast members, or lack thereof. With only Shemar Moore returning, co-star David Lim had some mixed feelings about the announcement.
Lim played Officer Tan for all eight seasons of the CBS drama, which was recently canceled for good in March 2025.
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David Lim’s Response
The Good …
When interviewed about the upcoming spinoff and his participation in the original, Lim had several thoughts.
“Being a part of S.W.A.T. for the past 8 seasons has been one of the great honors of my life. I poured my heart into playing Tan — and even more than that, into the team and friendships we built on and off screen.”
“What made S.W.A.T. special wasn’t just the action, or one character. It was the squad. The bond. The camaraderie. The shared blood, sweet, tears, and laughs we gave to every episode,” he explained.
“That effortless chemistry was there from the very first day we came together for the pilot, and it carried through all 8 seasons.”
… And the Bad
When thinking about the new Exiles spinoff, though, Lim had differing feelings.
“I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale — with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one. After 8 incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition — for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.”
Overall, though, Lim was positive about his role in the original series. “
I may not know what the future holds for Tan, but I couldn’t be more proud of what we created together — our cast, writers, producers, crew … No version of this story can take that away.”
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S.W.A.T. Exiles – What You Need to Know
In a surprise twist, S.W.A.T. Exiles was announced just two days after the original series was canceled. Sony Pictures made the announcement, with the finale of the original show fresh in viewers’ minds.
While not all the details are officially ironed out, we do know some things about the prospective new show.
Shemar Moore Returns
With the announcement of the Exiles spinoff, fans also learned that Shemar Moore would be returning as his beloved character, Hondo. Sharing an Instagram video, he addressed the fact of being the only returning cast member.
“Nobody likes change. I understand that. I get it 100%, but without change, you can’t grow. You can’t win without taking your lumps. ‘S.W.A.T. Exiles,’ baby, we won the battle.”
Later, Moore would go on to call himself “the Tom Brady of ‘S.W.A.T.,'” claiming “that’s not arrogant, that’s not ego, it’s the fact.”
Premise of the Spinoff
Originally titled S.W.A.T. Academy, the current premise of Exiles, according to IMDb, is as follows:
“Shemar Moore as Sergeant II Daniel “Hondo Harrelson Jr., a Los Angeles native and former LAPD SWAT Team leader who returns from retirement after a mission goes sideways to lead a team of younger recruits with one last chance in a ‘culture generation clash of Gen X versus Gen Z.'”
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Favorites from S.W.A.T. on Exiles
When interviewed, Sony Pictures TV President Katherine Pope told Variety that fans could expect some “favorites” from the original S.W.A.T. to appear on Exiles.
“There is a clear world that we’re exploring here. We’re still putting it all together, but for sure, I think you can expect some of your favorites to be a part of it in some way.”
Here’s to hoping that David Lim and other cast members return to their S.W.A.T. gear in the future.
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