S.W.A.T. is the franchise that refuses to die. The show was canceled and brought back, miraculously, and there appears to be some significant changes around the corner. The police drama will be adding Chicago Fire alum Annie Ilonzeh as a recurring character named Devin Gamble.
According to Deadline, Gamble is a Los Angeles native who grew up around a crime-ridden family. She was determined to break the cycle, and she thought she had by becomining of the the LAPD’s most promising rookies. Unfortunately, Gamble’s life was turned upside down when her father was arrested for a serious crime.
Annie Ilonzeh will played a troubled police officer
S.W.A.T. will pick up with the character having left the LAPD to work in Oakland. It sounds like she has a lot to process, in terms of familial trauma and sense of identity, but this will only make a compelling addition to the show.
Of course, Chicago Fire fans will best remember Annie Ilonzeh as Emily Foster, the medic who was brought in to replace in Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) in season 7. Like Gamble, Foster was a tough child who grew up with difficult parents. Her no-nonsense approach to the job made her one of the most reliable medics in the show’s history.
Niko Papaj has been promoted to S.W.A.T.‘s main cast
Despite her success, Foster had a change of heart in Chicago Fire season 8. A chance encounter with Chicago Med star Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) led to her reconsidering her passion for medical work, and she decided to leave her position at Firehouse 51. She told her mentor, Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), that her time as a medic helped her become a better person.
Hopefully Ilonzeh will get a chance to stick around longer on S.W.A.T. The procedural drama will also be promoting Niko Papaj to main cast member, following a stint as a recurring player. Papaj will return to play Officer Miguel Alfaro, after making his debut in season 6. Alfaro’s life long dream as to join the S.W.A.T. team, so he will no doubt be thrilled when the show returns.
