Summary

• S.W.A.T. season 7 was renewed after being prematurely canceled, thanks to fan support and the efforts of star Shemar Moore.
• The release date for S.W.A.T. season 7 has been announced as Friday Feb 16th, 2024.
• Season 7 will be the last season of S.W.A.T., with only 13 episodes, but the show may find new life on streaming platforms like Netflix.

S.W.A.T. season 7 is on the way following a brief cancelation, and there's much speculation about what awaits when it returns. Debuting in 2017, the Shemar Moore-led action series concerns Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson as he is tasked with leading the Los Angeles Police Department's prestigious Special Weapons and Tactics division. Sharing a fictional universe with the FX series The Shield, S.W.A.T. quickly set itself apart from the usual procedural fare because of its emphasis on action and a grittier approach to storytelling. The series snagged a few Primetime Emmy nominations and proved to be a big hit for CBS.

Despite the show's success during its more than half a decade on the air, the journey to S.W.A.T. season 7 was rocky. In May 2023, S.W.A.T. was canceled by CBS ahead of the season 6 finale, despite the fact its already strong ratings continued to improve. However, not long after the shocking misguided cancelation, CBS renewed the show for S.W.A.T. season 7 following an outpouring of disappointment from fans and Hondo himself, Shemar Moore. While major changes will likely accompany the next season of S.W.A.T., its renewal is proof that the show has a dedicated audience that wants more.

Stream On Netflix

S.W.A.T. Season 7 Latest News

A Supporting Actor Is Promoted

As the series nears its final premiere date, the latest news finds a S.W.A.T. supporting actor promoted to a lead role for the last season. Even though the final season will focus on the regular squad and their last adventures together, Anna Enger Ritch, who plays Zoe Powell, will be given a promotion. Debuting in season 5, Ritch's Powell recurred heavily in season 6, and will now take a step up and become a lead cast member for S.W.A.T. season 7.

In other S.W.A.T. season 7 cast news, Lina Esco's return gets an uncertain update which seemingly suggests the fan-favorite won't return. Producer Andy Dettman addressed Esco's return as Christina "Chris" Alonso for the final season, simply stating "I don't know". Esco departed S.W.A.T. in season 5 to pursue other projects and has not returned since. Chris Alonso's return would help cap off the final season, but that remains uncertain.

RELATED: Why Did Lina Esco Leave S.W.A.T.?

S.W.A.T. Season 7 Release Date

S.W.A.T.'s Final Season Arrives In February

S.W.A.T. season 7 was delayed along with most of Hollywood as a result of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes which shut down the industry throughout most of 2023. Though the landmark final season was supposed to arrive in fall 2023, it will now return to the screen at 8 pm on Friday, February 16th, 2024.

The WGA strike was resolved on September 27th, 2023, and the SAG-AFTRA strike was resolved on November 9th, 2023.

S.W.A.T. Season 7 Cast

The Returning Faces Of Season 7

The S.W.A.T. season 7 cast is going to be filled with familiar faces, and it can be assumed that the bulk of the main stars will return for the final outing. Heading up the series from the very beginning, Shemar Moore will certainly be back in his signature role as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. It has also been confirmed that newcomer Anna Enger Ritch has been promoted to a series regular, and she will reprise her role as Zoe Powell for the final season.

The rest of the returning cast is expected to include:

S.W.A.T. Season 7 Story Details

What The Final Season Holds In Store

Like many procedurals, S.W.A.T. typically wraps up its biggest storylines at the end of each season and launches a new overarching plot at the start of the next. Season 6 ended with notorious Mexican cartel kingpin Sancho Zamora being arrested after his revenge-fueled reign of terror, and it is highly unlikely that he will factor into S.W.A.T. season 7.

However, one development in season 6 that will be followed up on in season 7 is Hondo's proposal to Nichelle, which she gleefully accepts. S.W.A.T. season 7 has the chance to give Hondo and his crew a fitting ending, which was nearly robbed from them when the show was canceled. The opportunity for familiar characters from the past to return is still on the table, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

S.W.A.T. Season 7 Is The Last

One More Season For The S.W.A.T. Team

Though S.W.A.T. was miraculously revived from cancelation by CBS, the decision to bring the series back for season 7 was accompanied by the announcement that this one would be the last. S.W.A.T. season 7 was uncanceled by CBS, but the series was given a definitive end after the network dealt with the cancelation backlash. It will be a truncated season with only 13 episodes, as opposed to the usual 22, and it is clear that the network doesn't have a long-term plan for the show.

As its numbers have consistently indicated, S.W.A.T. is an incredibly popular series with a dedicated fanbase, and it could possibly find new life elsewhere. Though the ownership entanglements were what got the show canceled in the first place, its arrival on Netflix could give the series an even bigger long-term bump that might facilitate some sort of revival after season 7. It isn't unusual for streaming platforms to bring back network series that have been given the boot, and S.W.A.T. could be the streamer's next target if it is legally possible.

• 

  S.W.A.T.

  Release Date:

  2017-11-02

  Cast:

  shemar moore, Alex Russell, Kenny Johnson, Jay Harrington, Stephanie Sigman, Rochelle Aytes, Patrick St. Esprit

  Genres:

  Action, Crime, Adventure

  Seasons:

  7

  Story By:

  Robert Hammer, Rick Husky

  Writers:

  Shawn Ryan, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas

  Network:

  CBS

  Directors:

  Billy Gierhart

  Showrunner:

  Shawn Ryan, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas