SWAT boss gives shameful update on Street and Luca's possible returns: 'I don’t see them coming back'

SWAT might be coming back for an eighth season at CBS after evading cancellation, but don’t expect the show’s former cast members to be coming back just because the show has been uncanceled. 

As part of the final season arc crafted for season 7, SWAT reduced the role of both Alex Russell and Kenny Johnson in the final season with both longtime original members of the cast being reduced from series regular roles to guest spots.

Russell appeared in just one episode of the final season as part of a storyline that saw Street leaving 20-Squad to head up the Long Beach SWAT team. Meanwhile, Johnson appeared in just two episodes this season in an arc that saw Luca nearly die after attempting to stop a crime in progress and being forced to walk away from SWAT due to his injuries sustained. 

The decision was one that shocked fans and, quite frankly, didn’t sit well with longtime fans who felt blindsided by the lack of storyline given to the two original characters. After all, we were promised they’d each get meaningful sendoffs and were told they’d recur in the season, only for their roles to be reduced to one-off appearances in the season. 

The sting was lessened somewhat knowing the show was ending and the decisions were made as a way to wrap up the two characters’ time on the show, but now that season 8 is happening what does that mean for Russell and Johnson’s future on the show? Well, let’s just say fans shouldn’t get too excited. 

SWAT boss rules out Street and Luca’s return as core members of the team

While SWAT will be coming back for another season, neither Kenny Johnson nor Alex Russell will be coming back for the upcoming eighth season of SWAT. 

“No. No,” SWAT showrunner Andrew Dettman told TVLine when asked if the show’s renewal would allow them to bring Russell and Johnson back as series regulars. “That, and I think we still want to be true to the stories we’ve told. I don’t see them coming back [as series regulars], at least not in the near future.” 

While Dettman has ruled out the possibility of Russell or Johnson returning as series regulars in the upcoming season of SWAT, he didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of the two actors returning down the line.

“We sent Street down to Long Beach to be part of their S.W.A.T. team in his goodbye, so there’s no reason why he can’t show his face again. And with Luca, he was injured in a way that took him out, but where we left him, he was going to go find a life, so who knows? There’s no reason why either one can’t come back,” Dettman teased of a possible return. 

At this time, nothing is planned and honestly, we’re not going to get our hopes up given how they handled the characters in season 7. Still, we’d love to see the pair back even if just in a guest role at some point in the next season. 

SWAT season 8 is coming to CBS this fall!