S.W.A.T. Vet Weighs In on Surprise Spinoff News (‘I'd Be Lying If I Said It Didn't Sting'), Gets Support From Co-Stars
David Lim, who since Day 1 played S.W.A.T.'s Office Victor Tan, has shared his candid thoughts on how the S.W.A.T. EXILES spinoff announcement was handled earlier this month.
In EXILES, which will begin filming 10 episodes this summer in Los Angeles, 'After a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits,' reads the official logline. 'Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.' (Yeah, we have thoughts on that premise, too.)
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S.W.A.T. EXILES: Can Someone Make the Spinoff's Premise Make Sense...?
Shemar Moore: It's 'Bittersweet' Doing S.W.A.T. Spinoff Without OG Cast, 'But I'm the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. It's a Fact'
'S.W.A.T. Universe Was Dead for Less Than 48 Hours': Shemar Moore and EP Celebrate EXILES Spinoff News
Shemar Moore, who headlined S.W.A.T. for eight seasons as Hondo, is the only cast member confirmed to return for EXILES — though Sony Pictures TV Studios chief Katherine Pope has said, 'I think you can expect some of your favorites to be a part of it in some way.'
But as Lim alludes to in his lengthy Instagram post, neither Moore nor showrunner Jason Ning acknowledged the CBS reboot's ensemble in their statements accompanying the May 18 spinoff announcement. (Moore would, days later, later name-check Lim and other co-stars in an Instagram video in which he also framed himself as 'the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T.')
'I'd be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn't sting,' Lim shared on Instagram. 'It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale — with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one.
'After 8 incredible seasons,' he added, 'it felt like we were brushed aside when there could've been a moment of reflection and recognition — for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.'
Lim led off his post by saying, 'Being a part of S.W.A.T. for the past 8 seasons has been one of the great honors of my life. I poured my heart into playing Tan — and even more than that, into the team and friendships we built on and off screen. What made S.W.A.T. special wasn't just the action, or one character. It was the squad. The bond. The camaraderie…. That effortless chemistry was there from the very first day we came together for the pilot, and it carried through all 8 seasons…. We had a magical run and went out on a high note with those final two episodes.'
In closing, he said, 'I've seen the comments, the messages, the support — and it truly means a lot. I may not know what the future holds for Tan, but I couldn't be more proud of what we created together — our cast, writers, producers, crew… our SWAT family. No version of this story can take that away.'
Lim's IG has thus far received supportive comments from past/present co-stars including Rochelle Aytes ('Beautifully said!!'), Annie Ilonzeh ('Very well said'), Niko Pepaj ('Love you brother') and Emily Alabi ('So much love & respect to you and the entire @swatcbs @swatwriters team').
In Moore's aforementioned Instagram video, the S.W.A.T. front man and EP acknowledged that he 'might catch some flack from the industry with what I'm about to say,' before referring to himself as 'the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T.' and saying it's up to the EXILES 'team' to 'keep on pushing with their quarterback.'
After singling out a dozen castmates, Moore stressed, 'That's my family for life, OK? But just like in sports, Tom Brady might be the quarterback, but people get traded. Tight ends get traded, the running back gets traded, the receivers get traded… but the team keeps on pushing with their quarterback, and I'm that guy.'
Want scoop on , or for any other TV show? Shoot an email to InsideLine@tvline.com, and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line!
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