Fans of “S.W.A.T.” might be celebrating as their beloved series receives a new spin-off called “S.W.A.T. Exiles,” thanks to Sony Pictures Television. However, it seems the original cast has mixed feelings about this development. The decision to proceed with the spin-off without discussions with most of the original cast members has reportedly left some of them quite upset. A few actors have begun voicing their thoughts about the series, with at least two expressing their disappointment.

Jay Harrington, known for his role as Deacon Kay from the beginning, expressed to TVLine his dismay over Sony’s approach in announcing the new show. “I’ve been in this industry for years. You can’t just expect things because you’ve been around … It’s about respecting the line between feeling ‘owed’ and simply wanting the heads up,” he remarked. Harrington wished the new show success but felt disheartened that Sony’s press release neglected to mention the original cast.

David Lim, who portrayed Victor Tan throughout all eight seasons, shared on his Instagram page that he was hurt by the omission of the cast from the spin-off’s announcement. “The launch of the new spin-off stung, I won’t deny it. Seeing it revealed mere days after our finale without a single nod to the cast who helped ‘S.W.A.T.’ grow from the start was harsh,” he wrote, adding that he felt sidelined. Still, despite some cast members’ discontent with Sony, Shemar Moore stands firmly behind the studio’s decision to continue the franchise.

While Shemar Moore took the time to reach out to each of his colleagues when the news dropped and has publicly emphasized the importance of their contribution to the brand, he’s also been quite vocal about how he sees himself as the focal point of “S.W.A.T. Exiles” and has justified Sony’s choice to use Hondo and only Hondo in the upcoming spin-off. 

“I’m not saying I’m Tom Brady but I’m the Tom Brady of ‘S.W.A.T.’ That’s not arrogant. That’s not ego, it’s a fact. I’m the quarterback,” Moore said in part in an Instagram video. “Tight ends get traded. The running back gets traded, the receivers get traded but the teams keep pushing with their quarterback and I’m that guy.” But he was careful to note the cast’s importance, adding, “I had a strong squad, a family, a team. I love you, I respect you, I appreciate you,” before referring to all of his co-stars by name. 

“S.W.A.T. Exiles,” which will feature Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson coping with a generational gap after being benched from his team and forcibly retired, only to be called in to train a new S.W.A.T team, currently doesn’t have a home on either a network or streamer.