“Without change, you can’t grow”: Shemar Moore makes his feelings known about returning without his co-stars in S.W.A.T. Exiles

Sony Pictures Television recently greenlit S.W.A.T. Exiles, a spin-off of S.W.A.T. with actor Shemar Moore reprising his role as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. However, instead of bringing the original team back, Hondo will be leading a new team of rookie officers.

While the announcement left fans excited, a section of the audience was disappointed that most of the original cast members wouldn’t return for the spin-off. Some even called out Shemar Moore for continuing the franchise without his co-stars.

The actor has now addressed the backlash in an Instagram post. With a video message, Moore said that while nobody likes change, the television world is such that one has to move on and grab the opportunity that they get:

“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…. It ain’t easy making it in the game of Hollywood. It ain’t. TV shows don’t last eight years anymore. The game has changed.”

Shemar Moore reacts to backlash on returning without his co-stars in S.W.A.T. Exiles

Shemar Moore further added that he loves his co-stars from S.W.A.T. and has great respect for them. Comparing the situation to football, the actor said he is like the Tom Brady of this franchise, who has to keep going with a spin-off:

“I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady, but I’m the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That’s not arrogant. That’s not ego. It’s a fact. I’m the quarterback. I’m Shemar Moore aka Hondo. But I had a squad.”

“A strong squad. A family. A team. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say out loud to the world and to them — because I know they’re watching this — I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you.”

As of now, none of the original cast members have been announced to return for S.W.A.T. Exiles apart from Moore. The spin-off is instead taking the franchise into a new direction by introducing inexperienced recruits who have to overcome their interpersonal and generational differences to work together under Hondo.

Moore further highlighted that while the cast members might not come back for S.W.A.T. Exiles, the crew from the original show will get to keep their jobs as they will work on the new series:

“I’m excited that the crew gets to put food on their table and money in their accounts, and go to soccer practice and put their kids through the right schools. Saving jobs, working here in L.A., keeping Hollywood in L.A. This is a big deal.”

Moore concluded by saying that starting the journey of the spin-off is bittersweet for him, but he is proud of the show and is glad that the makers did the right thing by introducing S.W.A.T. Exiles:

“Yeah, a little bit bittersweet in some ways — but man, at the end of the day, we got to be so proud. We got to be so proud because we did the damn thing. The world took notice. And the industry took notice.”

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As of now, it has not been announced whether the spin-off will be broadcast on network television or a streaming platform. The 10-episode first season of the police drama will commence filming in Los Angeles this year.

For more news and updates about S.W.A.T. Exiles, keep following Soap Central.

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