SWAT Sequel Hints At Dark Hondo Twist After 20 Squad's Happy Ending

MovieStillsDB Published Sep 3, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The first trailer for S.W.A.T. Exiles has finally been released, and with a dark moment for Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson (Shemar Moore) in the opening moments, the spinoff series is hinting at a major twist after the happy ending of the original CBS series. Having come to a close in 2025 after three separate cancellations, SWAT Exiles came to life sooner than anticipated and with more excitement than expected. A spinoff of the original series that will bring Moore back as the focal point of the show's universe, SWAT Exiles has a much different logline than its original hit CBS predecessor. Following a disgraced Harrelson as he returns to SWAT despite his own reservations, the series will follow Hondo as he takes on a group of trainees who have all but failed out of becoming SWAT officers. As a one-time great, Hondo is tasked with training the rag-tag group while also re-establishing himself as a capable part of the LAPD. With darker themes coming into play in the Starz version of the series, which debuts on September 25 and has already been renewed for a second season, there's a lot that will change on SWAT Exiles, including an established character's fate. While the newly released SWAT Exiles season 1 trailer doesn't give much away about what's happened in the time between the original series and the spinoff, a few key shots of Hondo reveal that there may be a tragic twist revealed viewers of the original CBS SWAT didn't see coming. Hondo's Shown Reflecting In A Cemetery In SWAT Exiles' Trailer Starz During SWAT Exiles season 1's trailer, viewers get a taste of what's been happening in Hondo's life in the two years between the end of his time with Twenty Squad and the beginning of the spinoff. While the trailer then goes on to explore what will happen throughout the first season of the spinoff series, including introducing the members of Hondo's newly-formed team, a shot early in the trailer makes it clear that Hondo's experienced something dark. A quick shot of Hondo in a cemetery, walking through rows of headstones and then standing over a headstone is a chilling sight. While there's no real clues as to who's grave Hondo is standing over, Hondo's pained facial expression on screen could mean one of many SWAT characters doesn't make it to the spinoff. With Hondo having finally found a place of peace in his life, it's possible that the heartbreaking death could be a personal one, with his wife Nichelle (Rochelle Aytes) a potential victim. Hondo could also be heartbroken over the loss of a member of Twenty Squad, especially knowing that the only confirmed SWAT cast returns are from Deacon (Jay Harrington), Hicks (Patrick St. Esprit), and Tan (David Lim). ​​​​​​​ SWAT Exiles Will Feature A Whole New Side Of Hondo MovieStillsDB Regardless of which loss is troubling Hondo during the SWAT Exiles trailer, it's clear that viewers will get the chance to see a new side of the natural-born leader in the grittier spinoff series. While CBS' SWAT opened with Hondo getting the chance to lead Twenty Squad despite a ton of pushback from leadership and poor optics in the community, the series never made it feel like Hondo was in a dark place as he moved into his new role. His light and leadership were highlighted throughout the early seasons, making him the perfect leader for the skilled Twenty Squad. With SWAT Exiles putting Hondo into an incredibly different place as the series gets started, viewers will finally see Hondo having to crawl out of a hole that's left him struggling both personally and professionally. His life has changed tremendously in the two years between the end of his SWAT career and SWAT Exiles' beginning, and viewers will feel that tonal shift as the show gets underway. Though there's still a lot of mystery surrounding what to expect within the show's 10-episode debut, knowing that tragedy could be a major part of Hondo's story makes SWAT Exiles even more anticipated. Release Date September 25, 2026 Network Starz Directors Kevin Tancharoen Cast Jay Harrington David 'Deacon' Kay Shemar Moore Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson Jr. Patrick St. Esprit Robert 'Bob' Hicks