S.W.A.T., an action packed drama series set in Los Angeles, is coming back for a seventh and final season, but there are some changes ahead. Unfortunately, some of the fans' beloved actors from Season 1 will be making an early exit and won’t be present for all the episodes.
Kenny Johnson and Alex Russell will be making an early exit from the 7th season of S.W.A.T. and won't be gracing us with their presence on the long-running show. CBS initially canceled it after six seasons, but they quickly went back on their decision and greenlit Season 7.
Season 7 of S.W.A.T. will still feature Shemar Moore and Jay Harrington, two of the show's core actors since day one.
S.W.A.T. Season 7: Major exits ahead
Here's a look at who will be making an early exit.
Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca
Kenny Johnson’s Dominique Luca has been a cornerstone of S.W.A.T. since Season 1. While fans can look forward to seeing him in Season 7, his role will shift from a series regular to a recurring character. Johnson will feature prominently in a few key episodes, which will focus heavily on his character.
In an interview, showrunner Andrew Dettman explained the show’s approach to the final season:
"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."
Dettman also assured fans that the episodes featuring Johnson will be significant:
"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."
Alex Russell as Jim Street
Like Kenny Johnson, Alex Russell’s role as a series regular has been changed to a recurring role. While Russell’s Jim Street has been a staple of nearly every episode, his presence will be less frequent in the final season.
Along with this, Andrew Dettman has indicated that fans are going to get at least a few episodes that strongly focus on Russell and his character.
Dettman expressed his enthusiasm about the way Russell's departure is handled:
“I’m really excited about the episodes we have for [Luca and Street].”
What happened so far?
The show follows the high-stakes world of the Special Weapons and Tactics team in Los Angeles. Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, played by Shemar Moore, heads a team of S.W.A.T. agents tackling high-stakes and dangerous cases, from rescuing hostages to armed standoffs.
It gets the team through various challenges and personal issues all throughout the series. There is an episode where they deal with a hostage crisis featuring a young child. In another memorable storyline, the team investigates the criminal gang in a high-octane dramatic operation that saw them work at their limits.
The series also goes deep into the personal lives of its characters. For example, Officer Jim Street, played by Alex Russell, often grapples with his past actions, which adds depth to his character. Dominique Luca, played by Kenny Johnson, brings much of the humor and heart, occasionally tempering some of the most intense moments with his regular banter and encouragement of fellow team members.
S.W.A.T. strikes a great balance between action-filled scenes and emotionally charged stories that give viewers the excitement of elite law enforcement. Relive your favorite character's journey and the show's dramatic twists on CBS or stream it on Hulu.
