The S.W.A.T. was canceled, but it is the first time that the series was not saved with another season. Nevertheless, the story of Hondo is set to continue in the spinoff, where he will have to come out of retirement to help an experimental and unpredictable S.W.A.T. unit.

During an interview with Variety, Sony executive Katherine Pope shares that production on S.W.A.T. Exiles will begin this August. She also shares how important it is for her to keep the same crew from S.W.A.T. and to continue shooting in Santa Clarita. Pope clarifies that part of the reason the spinoff was greenlit so quickly is that she wants "to keep our community working." Check out her comments below:

We’re planning [to] start production end of August, so, we’re moving!

That’s really an important piece of this whole thing. The crew, and looking around at our city and our business and realizing, we have to keep our community healthy. We shoot a couple of shows on our lot, and “S.W.A.T.” has always shot at the same stages in Santa Clarita. A big piece of why we wanted to greenlight so quickly is to try to keep our community working.

What This Means For S.W.A.T. Exiles

It Is On Track To Debut In 2026

With S.W.A.T. Exiles being announced on May 18, having production start in August is a relatively quick turnaround. Keeping the same crew employed and continuing to shoot in Santa Clarita demonstrates loyalty and a commitment to the community. At the same time, it is also a smart practical decision that makes it possible for the brand-new spinoff to begin production in August, only a few months after the show was first announced.

This production window means that Exiles can debut in 2026 as planned. The S.W.A.T. season 8 ending is technically a series finale, but it does not have to feel like a definitive conclusion for too long, as work on the spinoff is already moving swiftly ahead. Pope also teases that familiar characters other than Hondo will appear in the show, so fans should expect franchise veterans other than Moore to report to set in August as well.

Our Take On S.W.A.T. Exiles' Production Window

Long waits between seasons are not uncommon, and the waits can become even more extensive when a new spinoff is involved. That fortunately will not be the case for Exiles, which can address some of the biggest unanswered questions from S.W.A.T. season 8. S.W.A.T. Exiles is on track to be released in 2026 and to continue expanding the franchise, and even though certain elements will feel inevitably different, having the same crew and shooting in the same city should help provide a feeling of consistency, as should the presence of Moore and other familiar stars.

Source: Variety