Culture 3 min read By Mason Emerson
S.W.A.T. Exiles Trailer Teases Return of Original Team Members
The first trailer for the S.W.A.T. spinoff series S.W.A.T. Exiles has arrived, teasing a Suicide Squad-style story with Hondo leading a team of disgraced officers and hinting at the return of original characters.
The first trailer for S.W.A.T. Exiles has arrived, and it confirms the spinoff series will lean into its Suicide Squad-inspired premise. The preview shows Hondo leading a team of officers who are washed up, disgraced, or carrying baggage that the LAPD would rather avoid, with the former leader making clear that nobody expects them to succeed.
The series follows Hondo as he trains a new generation of recruits who have all made serious mistakes in their pasts. The trailer emphasizes that these characters are on their last chances, with Hondo determined to prove that their past failures do not define their futures. The new team includes Lucy Barrett as gun-show influencer Sammy Bishop, Freddy Miyares as a tactical savant, Ronen Rubenstein as wild card Jude Callahan, Zyra Gorecki as Cassidy Reed, and Adain Bradley as the ambitious Malik Anderson.
A key moment in the trailer comes when Hondo discovers there is a mole within his team. He turns to his former S.W.A.T. colleagues for support, leading to a line from Deacon that hints at a larger reunion: «We're gonna need a bigger team.» The trailer confirms that both Deacon and Hicks will appear in the series, with Hicks having pulled Hondo back into the fold after his forced retirement.
The hint at more returning original characters has sparked speculation among fans about who else might show up. The trailer confirms Tan is back, but leaves questions open about Alfaro, Powell, Gamble, Chris, Street, and Luca. The possibility of additional cameos carries extra weight for longtime viewers, given how several characters were written out during the final season of the original series.
S.W.A.T. Exiles centers on Hondo's mission to rehabilitate officers whom the department has written off. Having read their files and knowing the extent of their past mistakes, he sees potential where others see liability. The theme echoes Hondo's own journey, as he overcame a rocky history to become a respected leader, and the series appears poised to explore whether this new generation can do the same.
The spinoff has already secured a second season commitment from Sony, though STARZ has not yet officially renewed the series. That early vote of confidence suggests the network is betting on the show's long-term potential, and fans of the original series will not have to worry about unresolved cliffhangers when the first season concludes.
S.W.A.T. Exiles premieres Friday, September 25, on STARZ, with new episodes releasing weekly.
