Sweet Magnolias creator Sheryl J. Anderson just broke her silence after the show’s shocking cancellation.
“Living in Serenity for five seasons has been a privilege and a blessing,” Anderson wrote via Instagram on Saturday, September 19. “The people I’ve met and worked with — our incredible writers, cast, crew, executives, and producers — have touched my heart and changed my life.”
She continued: “And our fans have been amazing in their passion for our characters. Thank you all. Though our journey has sadly come to an end, I hope Serenity will always have a place in your heart. Keep pouring it out!”
News broke on Friday, September 18, that Netflix chose not to renew Sweet Magnolias for a sixth season. Instead, the streaming service ordered a new drama series from Anderson — with JoAnna Garcia Swisher set to executive produce and potentially star in.
“All grand adventures must eventually end,” read a post from the show’s official Instagram account. “And here, dear friends, is where ours goes. Sweet Magnolias is now complete with five seasons streaming on Netflix.”
Anderson, for her part, teased their next chapter with Ladies of the House.
“I’m thrilled to be embarking on this new adventure with JoAnna and Netflix,” Anderson said in a statement. “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 — the kind of stories Jo and I most enjoy telling. I cannot wait to share the Richardson women and their world with Netflix’s global audience.”
Swisher also weighed in on the decision to adapt Ladies of the House, which is a modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility.
“From the moment I read Lauren Edmondson’s Ladies of the House, I fell completely in love with Daisy, Cricket and Wallis: their relationships, their messiness, their strength, and most of all, their heart,” she said. “I am beyond excited to continue to tell meaningful, female-driven stories alongside the incredible Sheryl J. Anderson, and to bring this to life through our production company Rolling Clover and with our wonderful partners at Black Label.”
She concluded: “Netflix has been my creative home for the past seven years, and I couldn’t imagine a better place, or a better team, to tell this story.”
Sweet Magnolias is streaming now on Netflix.
