Netflix canceled Sweet Magnolias, adapted from Sherryl Woods’ novels, three months after the premiere of Season 5. Season 5 remained on Netflix’s global top 10 list for English-language series for three weeks and on Nielsen’s U.S. ranking for 4 weeks; viewership declined. JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley portrayed three longtime friends who overcome life’s challenges together.
Showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson and Swisher will be among the producers of Ladies of the House, which will be adapted from Lauren Edmondson’s novel. While Swisher is expected to join the cast, Anderson will serve as showrunner and executive producer, while Swisher and Kate Gordon will be producers.
The story will follow a wife and her two adult daughters as they try to keep their winery, family members and relationships with the men in their lives afloat following the owner’s unexpected death. The project will mark Anderson and Swisher’s new collaboration at Netflix.
Why it matters
The cancellation of Sweet Magnolias shows that the decline in the series’ viewing performance was decisive in the decision, despite its visibility on global and U.S. rankings. This means that the production’s working relationship with Netflix has not come to an end entirely for its cast and creative team, but that they have turned to a different family- and winery-centered project instead of continuing the same story. The plan for Sheryl J. Anderson to take on creative responsibility for the new production, while JoAnna Garcia Swisher is set to be involved both as an actor and producer, shows that the figures behind the previous series are retaining their roles. However, Swisher’s participation in the cast has not yet been finalized; when the project will be released and the rest of the cast also remain unknown.