Netflix viewers got some long-awaited good news on Thursday when the streaming service announced that it was renewing its hit series Sweet Magnolias for a fourth season.
The drama, which is based on the popular series of novels by Sherryl Woods, released the entirety of its third season on July 20, but in an unusual move, news of the series’ future fate was delayed.
That pause was due to the since-ended WGA strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, according to Deadline.
However, the streamer reportedly had always planned to renew the series due to its strong viewership figures on the service.
In addition to the trio of actresses who lead the show — JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley — the show also features Chris Klein and Jamie Lynn Spears, who was eliminated from Dancing With The Stars earlier this month.
More to come! Netflix viewers got some long-awaited good news on Thursday when the streaming service announced that it was renewing its hit series Sweet Magnolias for a fourth season (Pictured L–R: Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley and JoAnna Garcia Swisher)
No rush: The renewal was delayed after the show’s third-season premiere in July due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but Netflix always planned to bring it back, according to Deadline
According to Netflix’s official logline, Sweet Magnolias ‘follows lifelong best friends Maddie (Swisher), Dana Sue (Elliott), and Helen (Headley) as they juggle relationships, family and careers in the charming small town of Serenity, South Carolina.’
Other members of the ensemble cast include Logan Allen, Justin Bruening, Dion Johnstone, Anneliese Judge, Chris Medlin, Brandon Quinn and Carson Rowland.
Fans had worried about the fate of Sweet Magnolias due to Netflix’s unusually long wait to announce a renewal.
Some viewers worried the show might have run its course after season three’s finale featured a more upbeat ending that wrapped up several storylines.
By contrast, the series’ first two seasons had both ended with cliff hangers that kept viewers wanting more until it returned.
According to Deadline, Sweet Magnolias commands a large female audience, which was why its survival was never in doubt among Netflix executives.
Although Netflix releases little in the way of viewership data — and makes it difficult to independently verify its claims about how many people watch its shows and films — Sweet Magnolias was listed in the streamer’s Global Top 10 section for an impressive 10 weeks across more than 60 countries, with its blockbuster third season even debuting atop the list.
Series creator Sheryl J. Anderson is riding high on her success with the show, and she is set to return as showrunner for season four.
On-screen talent: In addition to stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley, the show features Jamie Lynn Spears (center left) and Chris Klein (center right)
It’s complicated: According to Netflix’s logline, Sweet Magnolias ‘follows lifelong best friends Maddie (Swisher), Dana Sue (Elliott), and Helen (Headley) as they juggle relationships, family and careers in the charming small town of Serenity, South Carolina’; Swisher pictured with Justin Bruening
Wrapped up? Some viewers worried Sweet Magnolias was being canceled due to the long wait for an announcement and the cliffhanger-free season finale; Swisher and Headley (R) pictured
She also executive produces with Dan Paulson, as well as original novelist Sherryl Woods.
Sweet Magnolias is one of the shows in Netflix’s ‘comfort’ lineup, a group of low-stakes scripted that trade quality for ease of binging and appeal to a broad demographic.
Accordingly, the soap opera has been mostly ignored by the most prestigious television critics.
Other recently renewed ‘comfort’ shows for Netflix include The Lincoln Lawyer, Virgin River and Ginny & Georgia, which scored a two-season renewal.
