Fans are waiting for season 5 Magnolias are sweet – but some of the main characters will be gone when the game finally returns.
First things first, JoAnna Garcia Swisherwho has played Maddie since season 1, offered Us an understanding of why there may be a delay in returning to Serenity.
“It's very exciting this season. We're all over the place. It's taking us a long time to finish the season because we got the chance to travel,” he said. Us Weekly July 2025. “Actually, last night we were shooting at a baseball field and I was looking around, and we have a lot of new actors. There are these new faces in Serenity, South Carolina, which I'm really excited about. … There's new blood, new energy in Serenity.”
Magnolias are sweet, first introduced in 2020, based on Sherryl Woods novels about three women who have been best friends since childhood as they navigate their love lives, careers and family. Season 4 ended with some surprising moves, breakups, engagements and even major deaths, making Netflix viewers curious about where the show will go next.
Keep scrolling to see which characters are returning – and which aren't:
JoAnna Garcia Swisher
While talking to UsSwisher teased Maddie's move to New York City.
“Someone said something about people who weren't happy about Maddie taking a job in New York City. And I said, 'Okay, let's look at that. Let's get into that because it's going to help me as I navigate Maddie in season 5,'” she recalls of the divisive story. “Actually, everything is about growth and decline. That's life. Just because we have a husband or we have children at home, we are still important, living, breathing people. Our dreams don't end when we reach just one place.”
Swisher is excited for the fans to see how they coped with the big change.
“It was definitely something I never thought twice about when I read the scripts. But it was interesting to see the response and how people felt,” he said. “So I feel very happy to be able to portray an actor who is still strengthening his muscles and still dreaming and has an amazingly supportive wife and children. Everyone is thriving and everyone is good and life is still unfolding.”
Brooke Elliott
Elliott was photographed filming scenes for season 5 as Dana Sue (Elliott) visited Maddie in New York City.
Heather Headley
Headley said TVLine in July 2025 that season 5 will feature Helen (Headley) and Eric (Dion Johnstone) to have discussions about expanding their family after the season 4 wedding.
Logan Allen
Kyle's (Allen) story will continue when season 5 returns to Netflix.
Annelie Judge
After season 4 saw Annie (Judge) and Ty (Carson Rowland) finally became a couple, the season ended with them disagreeing about their next steps. Jaji is not giving up hope on where their journey will go from here.
“I will be interested to see if it is renewed for another season, I am crossing my fingers. [we will be],” he said to himself Us in February 2025. “The cliffhanger, it's there for me. I feel like I'm close to the audience. Like, 'Oh my god, I don't know what's going to happen.' Like, I don't know if Ty will realize that that wasn't the right way to go about that conversation. Because it came from a good place. He wanted her to go with him. He wanted to make the world with him. I get it, but it's hard. It's very difficult. We will have to see.”
Carson Rowland
Ty was not seen as prominent after Rowland and his wife, Maris Kennywelcomed their first child. That was expected to change in season 5 but Us finally broke the news that Rowland is staying for season 5.
Justin Bruening
Season 4 revealed that Maddie and Cal (Bruening) might consider expanding their family.
“I actually just talked about this yesterday with Justin because I said, 'We never got the honeymoon.' I don't know if that will involve a small bun in the oven – or at least a chance. But I think it's been really fun to see him step into the dad role and Cal knocks it out of the park,” Swisher said. Us. “I don't know if I'm pregnant. I hope it's winter in Serenity because it's really hot now. But I'm ready for the whole trip.”
Chris Klein
After four seasons playing Bill, Klein's character was killed off and will likely not be seen in future episodes.
“But the reason [he died] were we looking at a cataclysmic event that would strike everyone to the core of their being,” the creator Sheryl J. Anderson he told Us in February 2025. “And during his time at Serenity, [Bill] it was in between, obviously for Maddie and the kids but also for the group of friends around them [and] to other people in the city.”
Jamie Lynn Spears
The spears won Us like Noreen hopefully season 5 will show how her story grows after finding love again.
Dion Johnstone
Anderson teased how Eric and Helen's romance will grow in season 5, joining them Us“It is really important for couples to at least have discussions about those big issues [like adoption] before they got engaged. I mean, well and truly before they get married. “
Brandon Quinn
Dana Sue's family – including husband Ronnie – remains an integral part of Sweet Magnolias.
Chris Medlin
If Medlin isn't brought back to Serenity as Isaac, the viewers might be in a frenzy so there's a good chance he'll be in season 5.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Sigler was cast as Nell Winters, a prominent writer Maddie friends with in New York.
Of course, everyone loves to go out in the summer. But the good outside won't seem so good when you realize what awaits you on the small screen this season. First, you'll get answers to some big cliffhangers, like: What exactly did that restaurant review say on Hulu's fan-favorite The Bear — and […]
Janice Wesley
The actress joined the 5th season as Miss Eustice who is known as the matron of the town 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 makes life difficult for the Magnolias.
Aidan Merwarth
Merwarth has been described as Noah Wharton but not many details have been released yet.
Austin Woods
Woods is Blake Monaghan, who will “make life difficult for the Mini Magnolias.”
Iman Benson
Erik's niece, who brings unexpected news to Erik and Helen, is named Jessica.
