Following Shemar Moore’s candid public response to SWAT‘s sudden cancellation, the action series has been renewed for season 7. Moore portrays Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, a former marine and police officer who takes command of the LAPD’s SWAT unit and sets out to protect his community. SWAT was abruptly cancelled by CBS last Friday, something that prompted a swift and candid response from Moore, who questioned the network’s decision and insisted they would change their mind.
Now, Deadline reports SWAT season 7 will officially move forward. Discussions took place across the weekend between CBS and Sony Pictures Television following passionate reactions from Moore and viewers, concluding with both parties agreeing to renew SWAT for a 13-episode season 7, which will be its last. In a joint statement between CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and Sony Pictures Television Studios president Katherine Pope below, the two heads stated that they have listened to the audience’s vocal responses while thanking the cast and crew for their support:
“We have listened to our viewers and their outpouring of passion for S.W.A.T. and we have reached an agreement to renew it for a final season of 13 episodes to air during the 2023-2024 broadcast year. S.W.A.T. has aired for six seasons on CBS and garnered a devoted following. We are pleased that we found a way to bring it back and give closure to the show’s storylines and characters, which audiences deserve. Once again, we appreciate the talents and efforts of the cast, writers, producers and crew and everyone who has contributed to the success of S.W.A.T. We look forward to its return next season.”
Moore also reacted to the news with an Instagram post, which can be seen below:
Why SWAT’s Sudden Cancellation Was A Surprise
For both audiences and the cast and crew, SWAT‘s sudden cancellation came as a shock, with the reason behind the decision being unclear upon its announcement. Among currently airing TV dramas, SWAT has seen a gradual increase in its viewership, with the series attracting an average of 6.82 million viewers per episode upon broadcast. As such, SWAT has often found itself ranking among the top 20 TV dramas.
Furthermore, it was clarified that despite the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, the decision to cancel SWAT had not been due to the potential production issues. Instead, SWAT‘s cancellation came down to financial disagreements between CBS and Sony Pictures Television, with both sides unhappy with the conditions the other provided. This was despite Moore revealing that there were conversations about future seasons.
After a vocal response across the weekend, many dedicated SWAT fans are sure to be relieved by CBS and Sony’s change of heart. As seen above, Moore has already shared his relief at the change of course, and SWAT creator Shawn Ryan has similarly celebrated. SWAT may be ending with season 7, but this will ensure Hondo and his team get a genuine, satisfying ending.
Source: Deadline, Shemar Moore
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
