Two veteran SWAT cast members demoted to recurring (who are they and why?)

As SWAT preps for its final season, some news comes that not every cast member will be around for the entire season! Find out which vets are going to only recur and why here!

For a brief time last May, it looked like SWAT would have a premature end after six seasons. That it came with no warning to the producers or time to prepare a proper series finale elicited a huge backlash from fans. 

CBS listened and renewed the series for a final 13-episode season. It was delayed due to the strikes hitting Hollywood in 2023 but will finally debut on Friday, February 16. There will be some changes as, after recurring in Season 6, Anna Enger Ritch has been promoted to a series regular as Officer Zoe Powell. 

However, the series is shifting things up by moving two characters to recurring status. It should be noted SWAT has had to shuffle characters around for a time. For example, in Season 2, Kenneth Johnson, who plays Luca, suffered a hip injury, so the character had to be written out for a bit. 

However, it is a bit surprising that two characters will only be recurring. Who is it?

Who is only recurring on SWAT Season 7, and why?

Per TVLine, Johnson and Alex Russell (Jim Street) will only be recurring for the show’s final season, even though both will be in the opening credits. The main reason appears to be a mix of the actors' schedules and budgetary concerns.

However, showrunner Andrew Dettmann was quick to assure fans that just because Luca and Street won’t be full-time on the show, that doesn’t mean their characters will get short shrift. 

"Looking at [Season 7] being the final 13 [episodes], we wanted to give everybody their proper curtain call, so the episodes that we have for them are really focused on their characters and the evolution of their storylines. I’m really excited about the episodes we have for [Luca and Street]. The idea for the final 13 was that, if this was the end for us, nobody feels like they were underserved. There are some really good episodes for Alex and Kenny, for Street and Luca."

It does appear that the writers had to shift up any Season 7 plans for the shorter order and the knowledge this was the final season. Ironically, unlike other shows, SWAT wasn’t as deeply affected by the strike delay as it had always been planned for a short 13-episode run. 

It sounds like the producers hope to put a focus on both characters with Luca still handling his newly discovered half-sister Eva while Street looks ahead to his career. Their absences could be explained as being on another assignment (as they did with Johnson in Season 6) before returning.

So, while Luca and Street won’t be on SWAT in every episode of Season 7, fans should be assured they will still get their due as the series prepares for its big sendoff. 

SWAT Season 7 premieres on Friday, Feb. 16 at 8/7c on CBS. Catch up the following day on Paramount+.