One of the original S.W.A.T stars is joining Shemar Moore's spinoff despite previously calling out the show. Variety reported on Tuesday, February 10, that David Lim, who played Officer Victor Tan during the show's eight seasons, would be appearing in S.W.A.T Exiles. Lim, 42, is joining Moore and their former costar Jay Harrington a.k.a Sergeant David "Deacon" Kay in the first season's penultimate episode. The casting news comes after Lim previously addressed the spinoff not including most of the OG show's cast. Days after CBS aired the S.W.A.T. series finale in May 2025, Sony Pictures Television announced a spinoff starring Moore - and a new cast. The decision received backlash since Lim, Harrington, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj all expressed interest in reprising their roles in a future project. (In addition to Lim and Harrington, St. Esprit is expected to make an appearance in the new show as well.) How Has Each 'S.W.A.T.' Alum Addressed Not Being in Shemar Moore's Spinoff? Moore, 55, addressed the backlash, explaining in an Instagram video at the time, "Nobody likes change. I understand that. I get it 100 percent. But without change, you can't grow. You can't win without taking your lumps. It ain't easy making it in the game of Hollywood. It ain't. TV shows don't last eight years anymore. The game has changed. But S.W.A.T. Exiles, baby! S.W.A.T. Exiles. Bigger, bolder. S.W.A.T. on steroids." While defending the decision, Moore compared the spinoff to a football game, adding, "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. I'm Shemar Moore a.k.a Hondo. But I had a squad. A strong squad. A family. A team. And I would be remiss If I didn't say out loud to the world and to them - because I know they're watching this - I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you." Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Sony Pictures TV President Katherine Pope, meanwhile, weighed in on the possibility of bringing back some fan-favorite characters, telling Variety in June 2025, "There is a clear world that we're exploring here. We're still putting it all together, but for sure, I think you can expect some of your favorites to be a part of it in some way." Pope noted that the shows now exist in their own "universe" while S.W.A.T. Exiles is "a bit of a take on the culture generation clash of Gen X versus Gen Z." Which 'S.W.A.T.' Stars Are - And Aren't - Returning for Surprise Spinoff? "Where Hondo is all about duty, hierarchy and chain of command, the Gen Zers are a little more like, 'I might need to take a mental health day. I want to talk about it. I want to understand it,'" Pope teased about the upcoming series. "It's kind of our take on Top Gun: Maverick." Pope continued: "How do we build bridges around not just generational divides, but all forms of divide? There's a lot of division going on in our world. If we just took some time to listen and to try and be part of a team, and what that really means, it would probably be better for all of us." Lim was the first S.W.A.T. alum to publicly address the drama. The rest of his former costars, however, showed support for his candid statement on their exclusion. "I'd be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn't sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale - with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one," he wrote via Instagram in May 2025. "After eight incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could've been a moment of reflection and recognition - for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many."