Fans are eagerly waiting for the fifth season Sweet magnolias – but some key players will be missing when the series finally returns.
First things first, JoAnna Garcia Swisherwho has played Maddie since season 1 Us Insight into why there may be a delay in the return to Serenity’s arrival.
“This season it’s very exciting. We’re traveling everywhere. It takes us a little longer to finish a season because we have the opportunity to travel,” she said exclusively Us weekly in July 2025. “Actually last night we were filming at the baseball field and I was looking around and we have a lot of new cast members. There are these new faces in Serenity, South Carolina that are so exciting to 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 and navigate their romantic lives, careers, and families. Season 4 ended with surprise moves, breakups, engagements and even a serious death, which has left Netflix viewers curious to see where the series goes next.
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Keep scrolling to see which characters are coming back – and which aren’t:
JoAnna Garcia Swisher
During her interview with UsSwisher teased Maddie’s big move to New York City.
“Someone had mentioned something about people who weren’t happy about Maddie taking a job in New York City. And I thought, ‘Okay, let’s look at that. Let’s delve a little deeper into that because it will help me navigate Maddie in Season 5,'” she recalled of the divisive storyline. “Basically, it’s all about expanding and contracting. That’s what life is all about. Just because we have the husband or the kids at home, we are still vital, living, breathing human beings. Our dreams don’t end when we just get to a destination.”
Swisher was excited for fans to see how they approached the big change.
“It was definitely something I never thought twice about when I read the scripts. But it was interesting to see the feedback and people’s feelings,” she noted. “So I’m really excited to be able to portray a character who’s still flexing his muscles and still dreams and has an incredibly supportive partner and kids. They’re all doing well, everyone’s doing well and life is still revealing itself.”
Brooke Elliott
Elliott was photographed filming scenes from season five when Dana Sue (Elliott) visited Maddie in New York City.
Heather Headley
Headley told TVLine In July 2025, the fifth season will feature Helen (Headley) and Eric (Dion Johnstone) have conversations about potentially expanding their family after their engagement in Season 4.
Logan Allen
Kyle’s (Allen) story continues when season five returns to Netflix.
Anneliese Judge
After Season 4, Annie (Judge) and Ty (Carson Rowland) finally became a couple, the season ended with them disagreeing about their next steps. Judge doesn’t lose hope about where she goes from here.
“I’ll be really excited to see if we get renewed for another season and I’m keeping my fingers crossed (we will be),” she said exclusively Us in February 2025. “The cliffhanger is there for me. I feel like I’m right there with the audience. Like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know what’s going to happen.’ I don’t know if Ty will realize that wasn’t the right way to approach this conversation. Because it came from a good place. He wanted her to go with him. He wanted to be with her for everything in the world. I understand, 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 KennyShe welcomed her first child. That was expected to change in season five, but Us eventually broke the news that Rowland had to sit out season five.
Justin Bruning
Season 4 hinted that Maddie and Cal (Bruening) might be thinking about expanding their family.
“I actually just talked to Justin about it yesterday because I was like, ‘We never had a honeymoon.’ I don’t know if that means a little bun in the oven – or at least a chance. But I think it was really nice to see him step into that father role, and Cal is awesome,” Swisher said Us. “I don’t know if I’ll get pregnant. I hope it’s in the winter in Serenity because it’s really hot right now. But I’m ready for the whole trip.”
Chris Klein
After four seasons with Bill, Klein’s character was killed off and likely won’t appear in future episodes.
“But the reason (he died) is that we were looking for a catastrophic event that would strike everyone to the core of their being,” said the creator Sheryl J Anderson told Us in February 2025. “And throughout his time in Serenity, (Bill) was central, obviously to Maddie and the children, but also to the group of friends around her (and) to other people in the town.”
Jamie Lynn Spears
Spears won Us She’s back as Noreen, so hopefully Season 5 will show how her story unfolds after she finds love again.
Dion Johnstone
Teasing how the romance between Eric and Helen will grow in Season 5, Anderson shared Us“It’s really important for couples to at least have conversations about these big topics (like adoption) before they get engaged. I mean, ideally and definitely before they get married.”
Brandon Quinn
Dana Sue’s family – including husband Ronnie – is still an integral part of Sweet Magnolias.
Chris Medlin
If Medlin isn’t brought back to Serenity as Isaac, there will likely be an uproar among viewers, so there’s a good chance he’ll be in Season 5.
Jamie Lynn Sigler
Sigler was cast as Nell Winters, a well-known writer who Maddie befriends in New York.
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Janice Wesley
The actress appeared in the fifth season as Miss Eustice, also known as Serenity’s town matron.
Courtney Grace
Grace is Ronnie’s “new, stubborn” business partner Courtney Sinclair in season 5.
John Gabriel Rodriquez
Rodriquez is Clark Bellson, a rival business owner in Serenity who makes life difficult for the Magnolias.
Aidan Merwarth
Merwarth has been described as Noah Wharton, but not much other information has been released.
Austin Woods
Woods is Blake Monaghan, who will “make life difficult for the mini magnolias.”
Iman Benson
Erik’s niece, who gives Erik and Helen unexpected news, is named Jessica.
