Why Did Luca Leave SWAT? Kenny Johnson’s Departure Explained

As CBS revealed that SWAT would conclude with its seventh season, fans braced themselves for a final, emotional journey with the 13-episode season. However, what many didn’t anticipate was saying goodbye to beloved characters sooner than expected, or that some original team members would have significantly reduced roles in this concluding chapter. Just after fans processed the exit of Alex Russell as Street in episode 5, another original SWAT member, Dominique Luca, portrayed by Kenny Johnson, is also bidding farewell. This has left many viewers wondering: Why Did Luca Leave Swat?

Kenny Johnson’s Role Reduction in SWAT Season 7

Prior to the premiere of SWAT‘s final season, TVLine reported that both Alex Russell and Kenny Johnson would transition from series regulars to recurring roles for season 7. Showrunner Andrew Dettmann attempted to reassure fans, suggesting that special episodes were planned to give both characters meaningful sendoffs, ensuring they wouldn’t feel “underserved” in the final season.

Dettmann stated, “Looking at [Season 7] being the final 13 [episodes], we wanted to give everybody their proper curtain call so the episodes that we have for them are really focused on their characters and the evolution of their storylines. I’m really excited about the episodes we have for [Luca and Street]. The idea for the final 13 was that, if this was the end for us, nobody feels like they were underserved. There are some really good episodes for Alex and Kenny, for Street and Luca.”

This sparked hope among viewers that while Luca and Street might not be present in every episode, they would still have a notable recurring presence throughout the season. However, reality turned out differently. Alex Russell’s Street appeared in just one episode. Kenny Johnson’s Luca was absent until the sixth episode and is confirmed to only feature in a total of two episodes this season, making his departure feel more abrupt than a recurring role might suggest.

Luca’s Exit Was Not Due to Bad Terms

Despite the diminished screen time and the feeling that Luca’s departure was not a personal choice by Kenny Johnson, it’s important to note that his exit from SWAT was not marred by negativity. Johnson himself has expressed overwhelmingly positive sentiments about his time on the show and particularly cherished the opportunity to work alongside his daughter.

Following the announcement of his reduced role, Kenny Johnson took to Instagram to convey his gratitude to fans:

“For the fans: Time for our last dance !! After all we’ve been through !! It’s always been my complete honor and my pleasure!! I wanna thank everyone for all the love and support!! It’s purely all for you guys, and here we go for our last time together!! See you soon. The fact that I’ve got to work with my daughter on 3 films, and here SWAT, is beyond a dream come true !! Thank you Jelli! We get one more dance soon.”

Just before the final season commenced, Johnson again used Instagram to celebrate the show’s concluding run, promising fans a “beautiful bittersweet sendoff” for Luca. He reminisced about the original cast and his experience, highlighting the inclusion of his daughter Jelli, who plays Kelly on the show, in Luca’s storyline.

“This first picture is the original cast from the beginning with Justin Lin directing us !! So this being the last season, Luca was given a beautiful bittersweet send-off, and it got to include my daughter Jelli aka “Kelly “!! It’s been my honor, my privilege, and my pleasure to give all I could as Luca!!! Thank you for all the incredible support!!!”

Saying Goodbye to Luca in SWAT Season 7 Episode 7

While SWAT season 7 consists of 13 episodes, Kenny Johnson’s journey as Dominique Luca concludes in episode 7, marking a relatively early exit for a character who has been a cornerstone of the series since its inception.

As confirmed by TVLine, Luca’s farewell episode is scheduled to air on April 5, following CBS’s March Madness basketball coverage. Whether Luca might reappear in the series finale remains uncertain. However, the manner in which both Luca and Street have received definitive sendoffs early in the season suggests that their stories are likely concluded, rather than being woven throughout the final episodes.

Although fans appreciate that SWAT provided dedicated exit storylines for both Street and Luca, there’s an undeniable sense of disappointment that these integral, long-time characters weren’t given more prominent roles in the show’s final season. Their reduced presence is a significant change for viewers who have followed their journeys from the very beginning.

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