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SWAT boss reveals Alex Russell is expected to return for season 8 (just not as Street)

By Sabrina Reed

“Pariah” – When faced with a series of random shootings, one SWAT member’s family connections could be the key to stopping the next attack. Also, Hondo prepares to meet Rochelle’s parents for the first time, and Tan helps Luca navigate a sensitive situation, on S.W.A.T., Friday, Jan. 6 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*. Pictured: Alex Russell as Jim Street. Photo: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Broadcasting,
“Pariah” – When faced with a series of random shootings, one SWAT member’s family connections could be the key to stopping the next attack. Also, Hondo prepares to meet Rochelle’s parents for the first time, and Tan helps Luca navigate a sensitive situation, on S.W.A.T., Friday, Jan. 6 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*. Pictured: Alex Russell as Jim Street. Photo: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Broadcasting, /
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SWAT season 8 is going to look different to longtime fans used to 20 Squad's make up. Last season, both Jim Street and Dominique Luca were written out. Street's exit, however, would be easier to walk back than Luca's as the latter was forced into retirement due to a gunshot wound that permanently damaged his arm. Street is simply with a different unit, he transferred to lead the Long Beach S.W.A.T. team. But, unfortunately, we can't get our hopes up about seeing him next season.

Showrunner Andrew Dettman confirmed that neither Alex Russell nor Kenny Johnson would be back as series regulars, stating, "I think we still want to be true to the stories we've told."

Fans were hoping there’d be some kind of guarantee that the two actors would make a return since CBS once again reversed SWAT’s cancellation. The decision to write both characters out was in the context of the show coming up on its final episodes. Alas, that won’t be the case. Instead, we can anticipate the introduction of a new team member.

There was speculation that Jackie Vasquez would be brought into the fold, which could still be possible, but it’s looking less likely now that Jessica Camacho has been cast as the female lead in Prime Video’s Countdown series.

With much in the air about what direction SWAT is going to take in this next era, we can at least keep our fingers crossed for Russell to make a return, not in front of the screen but behind the camera. TVLine reports Dettman is interested in having him direct another episode of the procedural: “It’s very likely that Alex will be back to direct, since he did such a nice job for us."

Russell has been the director of one episode each season since the show's fifth. Last season, he directed “SNAFU,” which saw 20 Squad in the middle of a sniper case and furthered Deacon’s retirement plot that was resolved in the season finale with him coming back to the team after all.

It’s likely we won’t see Russell leave his mark on another SWAT entry until around the middle of season 8. The episodes he’s directed for the series have been either 8 or 10 episodes into the overarching story for the show’s season and that pattern may hold. The next installment of the procedural has gotten a full season order, so we can expect 22 episodes to air in the 2024-2025 television year.

We'll keep you posted as more news comes in. SWAT will return this fall, airing at 8 p.m. ET on Fridays, until it moves to 10 p.m. ET during the midseason. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote!

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