Netflix cancels Sweet Magnolias after five seasons, greenlights new series with its showrunner and star

Netflix said it will end the drama Sweet Magnolias after five seasons, three months after the fifth season debuted. Audience numbers had declined in the fourth and fifth installments, with the latest season spending three weeks in the service’s worldwide top-10 for English-language series and four weeks on Nielsen’s U.S. chart.

The series, based on Sherryl Woods’ novels, follows three longtime friends played by JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley. While the show is concluding, Netflix confirmed that Anderson and Garcia Swisher will serve as executive producers on a new series titled Ladies of the House, adapted from Lauren Edmondson’s novel. The story centers on a winery family coping with the sudden death of its owner and the ensuing conflicts among the widow and her two adult daughters.

Anderson, who will also act as showrunner, said, "I’m thrilled to be embarking on this new adventure with JoAnna and Netflix. 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."

Garcia Swisher added, "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."

The new project will be produced by Rolling Clover and Black Label Media.