Netflix has ended Sweet Magnolias after five seasons, bringing the story of lifelong friends Maddie Townsend, Dana Sue Sullivan and Helen Decatur in the fictional town of Serenity, South Carolina, to a close.

The show’s writers confirmed the news in a statement shared on Sept. 18, telling fans that the series had reached its end after five seasons.

“All grand adventures must eventually end. And here, dear friends, is where ours does. SWEET MAGNOLIAS is now complete with five seasons streaming on Netflix,” the writers said.

The statement also thanked the show’s cast, crew, producers, Netflix and its viewers, emphasizing the importance of the audience to the series’ five-season run.

“Serenity is for you. Every moment of laughter, of heartbreak, of anger, of joy was for you. While this journey may be complete, the Sweet Magnolias will always be there for you when you need them most. Serenity will always be happy to see you. Keep pouring it out!”

JoAnna Garcia Swisher Moves to a New Netflix Series

Although Sweet Magnolias is ending, Netflix is continuing its relationship with JoAnna Garcia Swisher and showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson through a new drama series, Ladies of the House.

Garcia Swisher, who played Maddie Townsend on Sweet Magnolias, will executive produce the new series and is being considered for a starring role. Anderson will serve as showrunner, while Garcia Swisher and Kate Gordon will executive produce through their production company, Rolling Clover.

The new series is based on Lauren Edmondson’s novel Ladies of the House, which offers a contemporary take on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.

The story centers on a family winery after its charismatic owner unexpectedly dies. His wife and two adult daughters must work through their personal difficulties while attempting to deal with challenges involving the business, their extended family and the men in their lives.

Netflix’s official description says, “Good friends and good wine will aid in the journey to hang on to the winery, but what matters most is that they find a way to hang on to each other.”

Anderson expressed her enthusiasm about continuing her collaboration with Garcia Swisher.

“I’m thrilled to be embarking on this new adventure with JoAnna and Netflix,” Anderson said.

“When Jo shared the novel with me, I immediately saw the foundation for a series centered on three women grappling with the complexities of family, friendship, and romance — the kind of stories Jo and I most enjoy telling. I cannot wait to share the Richardson women and their world with Netflix’s global audience,” she added.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher Shares Her Excitement

Garcia Swisher also spoke positively about the new project, explaining that she immediately connected with the characters when she read Edmondson’s novel.

“From the moment I read Lauren Edmondson’s Ladies of the House, I fell completely in love with Daisy, Cricket, and Wallis: their relationships, their messiness, their strength, and most of all, their heart,” Garcia Swisher said.

“I am beyond excited to continue to tell meaningful, female-driven stories alongside the incredible Sheryl Anderson, and to bring this to life through our production company, Rolling Clover, and with our wonderful partners at Black Label. Netflix has been my creative home for the past seven years, and I couldn’t imagine a better place, or a better team, to tell this story.”

Black Label Media will also executive produce the new series.

The End of ‘Sweet Magnolias’

Sweet Magnolias was based on the book series by Sherryl Woods and premiered on Netflix in 2020. The series followed Maddie, Helen and Dana Sue as they navigated friendship, family, relationships and careers in Serenity.

Garcia Swisher starred alongside Brooke Elliott, who played Dana Sue, and Heather Headley, who portrayed Helen. The ensemble cast also included Jamie Lynn Spears, Justin Bruening, Dion Johnstone, Brandon Quinn, Carson Rowland, Anneliese Judge and other actors.

The fifth season premiered in June and will now serve as the show’s final season.

According to reporting surrounding the announcement, Sweet Magnolias accumulated more than 100 million views and appeared in Netflix’s Global Weekly Top 10 list 14 times across more than 60 countries during its run.

The conclusion of the series means there will be no sixth season of Sweet Magnolias. However, Garcia Swisher’s continued work with Anderson gives the actress and creative team another opportunity to tell a story centered on relationships, family and women.

While Serenity’s story has ended, Ladies of the House will introduce Netflix viewers to a new group of characters and a different family setting, with a winery replacing the small-town world of Sweet Magnolias.