'Sweet Magnolias' Fans, JoAnna Garcia Swisher Dropped an Epic Season 4 Update (2024)

This story contains spoilers for Sweet Magnolias season 3.

If you've watched Sweet Magnolias season 3, you know the townspeople of Serenity had quite the journey.

Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue Sullivan (Brooke Elliott) and Helen Decatur (Heather Headley) were in the middle of trying times in their lives. Between Maddie's boyfriend Cal Maddox (Justin Bruening) getting into a brawl with her ex-husband Bill Townsend (Chris Klein), Dana Sue's restaurant being vandalized and Helen dealing with a miscarriage, it was hard to see how they'd all make it through. Thankfully, the trio got their relationships on track eventually. Plus, they even got together to see Dana Sue and her husband Ronnie Sullivan (Brandon Quinn) renew their wedding vows.

With all the ups and downs of Sweet Magnolias, fans are itching to know whether the popular series will be back for season 4. Here's everything we know so far.

Yes, Sweet Magnolias is renewed for season 4! Netflix announced the major news in October 2023, just three months after the latest release of episodes on the streamer. What's more, executive producer Sheryl J. Anderson shared with Tudum that the show is expected to pick up right where season 3 left off in the Sweet Magnolias' friendship.

"The beating heart of this show is the deep relationship between these three amazing women, and how they sustain and celebrate each other," she said about the upcoming new season. "Perhaps what excites me most about being able to bring Season 4 to life is that I get to collaborate again with our marvelous writers, cast and crew. I get to live in Serenity again, to soak up the strength and happiness of a town where people truly want the best for each other and are willing to put in the work necessary to make that happen.”

While the series was green-lit for another season, it took a while before the show could work on a new round of episodes. Amid the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) striking a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in September 2023, with SAG-AFTRA following that November, a delay for Sweet Magnolias coming back for season 4 was inevitable.

Not only did Sweet Magnolias season 4 begin production back in February, but the show revealed on May 30 that filming officially wrapped on the newest installment by posting a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram.

"As of this morning, at 3:33am, Sweet Magnolias Season 4 has wrapped filming," read the official caption. "This season is filled with love, laughter, tears, thrills, and many, many margaritas. Congratulations to our writers, cast, crew, producers, executives, and everyone who touched this show. We can't wait to pour it out with all of you!"

But that wasn't all the show had to say. Actress JoAnna Garcia Swisher confirmed the news of Sweet Magnolias season 4 finishing filming with a sweet Instagram photo alongside co-stars Heather Headley and Brooke Elliott. She expressed her feelings about filming the new season, giving folks a taste of what's to come.

"That’s a wrap on Season 4!" she emotionally wrote. "I cannot wait for you all to see what we have been up to in Serenity. It’s been a magical season … for reasons I cannot wait to share ☺️ ... This was BY FAR my favorite season … not just for the OMG moments (there are many of them!), but because it was a joy to make. And, in many ways, it feels like we are just getting started. There are a million photos I can’t wait to share when Season 4 streams, but until then I will leave ya with one of me and two of my favorite humans. The three of us are just one piece of a world (on the screen and off) that make Serenity and @sweetmagnoliasnetflix what it is and we love getting to share it all with you!"

Well, someone grab us some margaritas ASAP over this news!

Based on the events of the season 3 finale, fans can likely expect these cast members to return for Sweet Magnolias season 4:

• JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Maddie Townsend
• Brooke Elliott as Dana Sue Sullivan
• Heather Headley as Helen Decatur
• Justin Bruening as Cal Maddox
• Brandon Quinn as Ronnie Sullivan
• Chris Klein as Bill Townsend
• Jamie Lynn Spears as Noreen Fitzgibbons
• Dion Johnstone as Erik Whitley
• Chris Medlin as Isaac Downey
• Carson Rowland as Tyler "Ty" Townsend
• Logan Allen as Kyle Townsend
• Ella Grace Helton as Katie Townsend
• Anneliese Judge as Annie Sullivan

Make sure you hit "save" at the top of this article to stay up-to-date on the latest news about Sweet Magnolias season 4. We will be updating this article as soon as we can with even more exciting details.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher spoke with Good Housekeeping in July 2023 to share her thoughts about potential new episodes. As she explained to the outlet, she felt there was a lot more to explore with the Sweet Magnolias after their rift in season 3.

"I think [the rift] adds a lot of depth to their friendship," she said at the time. "The show literally celebrates this friendship between these three women. That is what this show is at the heart of it, and all that happens in between it ... They've gone to hell and back with each other, and that type of relationship is very real and very relatable. I think that there's still so much storytelling in that way."

When Brooke Elliott spoke with TVFanatic in July 2023 about whether a fourth season of Sweet Magnolias was on the way, she was optimistic about the outcome of her character's future. "I would like to see more of Ronnie and Dana Sue together," she said at the time. "I really love them. And I love the growth that they go through."

She added: "I love to see those little pieces of nuance and intricacies that come out about her personality that round her out. You get to know who Dana Sue is, where she came from, how she became the way she is, and all the pieces of how she is."

When Sweet Magnolias returns for season 4, folks can watch new episodes exclusively on Netflix. Viewers will want to make sure they have a working account with Netflix. The streamer offers a 30-day free trial before opting into plans that start at $6.99 per month. Once you're all set up with a profile, click on the title page on Netflix's website or on the Netflix app.