S.W.A.T season 8 is losing an important cast member, though the actor will appear in another CBS show. The Shawn Ryan-created action drama series, which follows Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Moore) and his unit, has now surprisingly survived cancellation twice. This past April, with the planned series finale just weeks away, CBS shifted course and announced that it was renewing S.W.A.T for season 8. But that unexpected announcement came with a notable on-screen change.

Deadline reports that Rochelle Aytes, who plays Nichelle Carmichael, will not return as a series regular for S.W.A.T season 8. It’s noted that producers would like to keep the actor on in a recurring capacity, given that Nichelle is Hondo’s wife. Aytes is joining the upcoming Sherlock-connected CBS drama Watson in the meantime. It’s also mentioned that season 8 will add a new female character to the cast as a SWAT team member in a recurring capacity, with no other departures expected for the main cast.

Nichelle Carmichael Has A Long History On S.W.A.T

The Character First Appeared During Season 3

In the role of Nichelle Carmichael, Aytes first appeared during S.W.A.T season 3 and featured in well over 40 episodes. The character was introduced as a worker at the local community center, though she was positioned as a potential love interest for Hondo. That relationship blossomed and, by season 5, Nichelle is pregnant with Hondo’s first child, who turned out to be a daughter, Vivian, making the couple proud parents.

Aytes looked poised to continue to have a growing presence within the series. As of S.W.A.T season 7, Hondo and Nichelle are married. Plus, outside of the central relationship, Nichelle becomes a police performance auditor with the Office of the Inspector General. But the latest update is hopeful that Aytes can maintain her recurring presence on the show.

Rochelle Aytes’ New Sherlock-Connected Show Explained

Aytes Will Play An Important Role In The New CBS Series.

Watson will see The Resident alum play the titular role, with the events set one year after the death of Sherlock Holmes. Described as a contemporary story, the series follows Dr. John Watson as he resumes his medical career. He’s the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. However, Watson’s old life catches up with him. In particular, official summaries have teased that Moriarty and Watson will be stepping into the spotlight and writing their own chapter.

Aytes will play Dr. Mary Morstan, one of the best surgeons on the East Coast. She’s also the Medical Director of the hospital and Watson’s ex-wife. The voice of reason, when compared to Watson, Morstan still has a great deal of respect for her ex-husband though she does grow frustrated with his approach to medicine. Aytes joins a cast that also includes Peter Mark Kendall and Ritchie Coster, who play twin doctors.

Slated to debut later in 2024, Watson is created by Craig Sweeny, a writer and producer on the Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu drama Elementary. That iteration of Sherlock ran for seven seasons and more than 154 episodes, meaning that Aytes’ move from S.W.A.T could end up being a long-term prospect that still allows her to feature as Nichelle Carmichael. That’s especially the case since both shows are on CBS.

Source: Deadline