Fans are anxiously awaiting season 5 of Sweet Magnolias — but some main cast members will be missing when the show finally does return.
First things first, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, who has played Maddie since season 1, gave Us insight into why there might be a delay on the arrival of the return to Serenity.
“It is very exciting this season. We are all over the place. It’s taking us a little bit longer to complete a season because we’ve gotten the opportunity to travel,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in July 2025. “Actually, last night we were shooting at the baseball field and I was looking around, and we have a lot of new cast members. There’s these new faces in Serenity, South Carolina, that are so exciting for me. … There’s new, fresh blood and energy in Serenity.”
Sweet Magnolias, which premiered in 2020, is based on Sherryl Woods’ novels about three women who have been best friends since childhood as they navigate their romantic lives, careers and family. Season 4 ended with surprising moves, breakups, engagements and even a major death, which has made Netflix viewers curious about where the show goes next.
Keep scrolling to see which characters are coming back — and which aren’t:
JoAnna Garcia Swisher
During her interview with Us, Swisher teased Maddie’s big move to New York City.
“Someone had mentioned something about people who were not happy that Maddie took a job in New York City. And I was like, ‘OK, let’s look into that. Let’s kind of dive into that because it’ll help me as I navigate Maddie in season 5,’” she recalled about the divisive story line. ”It’s really all about just expanding and contracting. That’s what life is. Just because we got the man or we have the kids at home, we’re still vital, living, breathing people. Our dreams don’t end when we just get to one destination.”
Swisher was excited for fans to see how they approached the big change.
“It definitely was something that I never thought twice about when I read the scripts. But it was interesting to see the feedback and the way people felt,” she noted. “So I feel really excited to be able to portray a character that is still flexing her muscles and still dreaming and has an incredibly supportive partner and children. They’re all thriving and everyone’s OK and life is still revealing itself.”
Brooke Elliott
Elliott has been photographed filming scenes for season 5 as Dana Sue (Elliott) visited Maddie in New York City.
Heather Headley
Headley told TVLine in July 2025 that season 5 will feature Helen (Headley) and Eric (Dion Johnstone) having conversations about possibly expanding their family after getting engaged in season 4.
Logan Allen
Kyle’s (Allen) story will continue when season 5 returns to Netflix.
Anneliese Judge
After season 4 saw Annie (Judge) and Ty (Carson Rowland) finally becoming a couple, the season ended with them at odds about their next steps. Judge isn’t losing out hope about where their journey would go from here.
“I’m going to be really interested to see if we’re renewed for another season, which I’m crossing my fingers [we will be],” she exclusively told Us in February 2025. “The cliffhanger, it’s there for me. I feel like I’m right alongside the viewers. Like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know what’s gonna happen.’ Like, I don’t know if Ty’s gonna realize that that was not the right way to approach that conversation. Because it came from a good place. He wanted her to go with him. He wanted to for the world with her. I get it, but it’s hard. It’s so hard. We’ll have to see.”
Carson Rowland
Ty wasn’t featured as prominently after Rowland and his wife, Maris Kenny, welcomed their first child. That was expected to change in season 5 but Us ultimately broke the news that Rowland sat season 5 out.
Justin Bruening
Season 4 hinted that Maddie and Cal (Bruening) could consider expanding their family.
“I actually just talked about this yesterday with Justin because I’m like, ‘We never got a honeymoon.’ I don’t know if that will involve a little bun in the oven — or at least an opportunity. But I think it’s really been really sweet to see step into this father role and Cal is knocking it out of the park,” Swisher told Us. “I don’t know if I do get pregnant. I hope it’s during the winter in Serenity because it’s really hot right now. But I’m up for all of the journey.”
Chris Klein
Following four seasons playing Bill, Klein’s character was killed off and will likely not appear in future episodes.
“But the reason [he died] is we were looking for a cataclysmic event that would strike everybody at the core of their being,” creator Sheryl J. Anderson told Us in February 2025. “And across his time in Serenity, [Bill] has been central, obviously to Maddie and the kids but also to the group of friends around them [and] to other people in town.”
Jamie Lynn Spears
Spears won Us over as Noreen so hopefully season 5 will show how her story develops after finding love again.
Dion Johnstone
Anderson teased how Eric and Helen’s romance will grow in season 5, sharing with Us, “It’s really important for couples to have at least begun conversations on those big issues [like adoption] before they get engaged. I mean, ideally and certainly before they get married.”
Brandon Quinn
Dana Sue’s family — including husband Ronnie — are still an integral part of Sweet Magnolias.
Chris Medlin
If Medlin isn’t brought back to Serenity as Isaac, viewers would likely riot so chances are he will be in season 5.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Sigler has been cast as Nell Winters, who is a prominent writer Maddie befriends in New York.
Janice Wesley
The actress joined season 5 as Miss Eustice a.k.a a town matron of Serenity.
Courtney Grace
Grace is Ronnie’s “new, hard-charging” business partner Courtney Sinclair in season 5.
John Gabriel Rodriquez
Rodriquez is Clark Bellson, a rival business owner in Serenity who complicates life for the Magnolias.
Aidan Merwarth
Merwarth has been described as Noah Wharton but not much more information has been released yet.
Austin Woods
Woods is Blake Monaghan, who will “complicate life for the Mini Magnolias.”
Iman Benson
Erik’s niece, who brings unexpected news to Erik and Helen, is named Jessica.
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