S.W.A.T. Season 8 Recruits Annie Ilonzeh, Promotes Niko Pepaj as Alfaro

It appears that S.W.A.T. ‘s 20-Squad is completely refortified after the events of what everyone thought would be the CBS drama’s farewell season — with the addition to Annie Ilonzeh in a recurring role, and the promotion of Niko Pepaj (who plays Alfaro) to series regular status.

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Season 7, originally announced as the procedural’s final season, effectively wrote out two original cast members — Alex Russell, as Street, and then Kenny Johnson, as Luca. A third vacancy on 20-Squad nearly opened up when Deacon (Jay Harrington) decided to retire, to fulfill a promise to wife Annie. But luckily, at season’s very end, circumstances allowed Deacon to hold onto his badge and gun.

Even so, Hondo was urged by Hicks, and given “carte blanche,” to name two new faces to join 20-Squad, and though Tan, for one, had questions about Alfaro, the new recruit proved himself in the finale. Given Pepaj’s promotion, Alfaro clearly will be on 20-Squad when the new season arrives on Friday, Oct. 18 .

Ilonzeh — whose previous TV credits include Chicago Fire , Person of Interest , ABC’s 2011 Charlie’s Angels reboot and General Hospital — will claim the second open spot on Hondo’s team, in the recurring role of Devin Gamble.

As first reported by Deadline , Gamble was born into an L.A. family entrenched in crime, yet steered herself to be a standout LAPD rookie. Alas, in the wake of her father’s arrest for a heinous crime, Gamble a decade ago made tracks for Oakland — but Hondo will lure her back to L.A., to round out 20-Squad’s elite ranks.

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S.W.A.T. ‘s other, previously announced Season 8 cast change finds Rochelle Aytes stepping down as a series regular , to board the cast of CBS’ midseason drama Watson ; it is hoped she will recur as Nichelle as needed.

And despite CBS’ un-cancelling of S.W.A.T ., showrunner Andrew Dettman told TVLine that neither Russell nor Johnson are likely to return as series regulars, “ at least not in the near future .” As he explained, “I think we still want to be true to the stories we’ve told.”

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