It looks like the upcoming SWAT: Exiles will bring back another old face from the original show that fans want to see!
SWAT fans are cautiously optimistic about the coming SWAT: Exiles. The series (which has yet to find a streaming home) will pick up from the CBS series, which came to an end (at last) in 2025.
While Shemar Moore was already attached as Sgt. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson was the only actor from the original series announced to take part. That did change with Jay Harington confirmed as Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay and Patrick St. Esprit (Commander Robert "Bob" Hicks) both appear in the Exiles pilot.
Now, Variety reports that David Lim will be appearing in the series as Officer Victor Tan. Reportedly, he’ll guest-star in the penultimate episode of season 1, but no other details are known.
Lim’s participation is telling: when the show was announced in May of 2025 (just days after SWAT wrapped up its eight-season run), the actor posted on Instagram, sharing his very candid feelings about not being asked to be part of it.
"I'd be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn't sting. 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 [eight] incredible seasons, 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."
Thankfully, it seems the producers reached out to Lim after all, which is good, as bringing in old faces can help fans of SWAT get used to this new team.
The concept of Exiles is already tricky. The official line is that Hondo is cut from the LAPD after a mission gone wrong. He’s brought back to help a pack of young recruits become a team, realizing they’re the “problem children” of the police force.
The supporting cast includes Ronen Rubinstein, Freddy Miyares, Lucy Barrett , Zyra Gorecki, and Adain Bradley. As fun as these new characters may be, SWAT fans would expect more of the original team to pop in from time to time. Having Deacs and Hicks in the pilot makes sense with the setup for Hondo moving to a new team, yet the potential for more characters coming in.
Tan's arrival should be a good move. He’s likely risen up the ranks a bit, as he was shown becoming an instructor at the police academy, so there’s the logical idea that Hondo brings him in to help with the training of his new squad. That can give us an update on Tan’s life and maybe his becoming a team leader himself.
Hopefully, this is the start of more SWAT characters popping up (like Rochelle Aytes as Hondo’s wife, Nichelle), and at least SWAT fans are happy to know one character will spark up the spinoff.
SWAT streaming on Netflix and Paramount+. SWAT: Exiles to premiere in 2026.