Looks like those margaritas are still flowing — Sweet Magnolias is officially returning for Season 5.
After a bit of a wait, Netflix confirmed the renewal of the small-town Southern comfort drama, with Sheryl J. Anderson back at the helm as showrunner. The news arrives nearly three months after the Season 4 finale and follows some quiet uncertainty, given that the series only spent two weeks in Netflix’s Global Top 10 for English-language shows — peaking at #4. For some series, that performance might have spelled the end. But for the ladies of Serenity, South Carolina? Not just yet.
Based on Sherryl Woods’ best-selling book series, Sweet Magnolias follows lifelong best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), and Helen (Heather Headley) as they navigate life, love, loss, and late-night cocktails — all set against the warm, picturesque backdrop of their hometown.
And if you thought Season 4 was a rollercoaster, the next chapter is already teasing big changes. The finale ended with more than one cliffhanger, but the biggest? Maddie’s decision to take a job in New York City, potentially upending everything she’s built in Serenity — including her newly rekindled relationship with Cal.
But don’t panic just yet.
“You can never turn the lights off in Serenity,” Garcia Swisher said in a recent interview. “I know some folks saw Maddie’s decision and thought, ‘Wait, is this the end of the show?’ But trust — we’ll find our way back.”
For Anderson, the creative leap into a new city is less about leaving behind what fans love and more about adding new layers.
“We are thrilled to let the Magnolias take Manhattan,” she shared with Tudum. “This adventure gives us a new lens to explore their friendships, especially how they support one another when life pulls them in different directions. True friendship shows up even when zip codes don’t match.”
That real-life crossroads is part of what keeps Sweet Magnolias feeling grounded, even in the drama. “So many women are constantly asking, ‘Am I allowed to put myself first this time?’” Anderson said. “That’s Maddie’s question now. She has kids, a new husband, and deep roots in Serenity — but does that mean she has to say no to a dream?”
Season 5 will consist of 10 episodes, with Anderson executive producing alongside Dan Paulson (through his Daniel L. Paulson Productions), Matt Drake, and co-executive producer Norman Buckley. Woods, the author of the source material, remains on board as an executive producer as well.
So yes — the girls are back. But now, the sweet tea might be served with a side of skyline views. Whether it’s navigating the publishing world in NYC or holding down the fort in Serenity, one thing’s for sure: these Magnolias never wilt.