Why isn’t Bianca Berry Tarantino in Sweet Magnolias season 3? (Why was Katie recast?)

Sweet Magnolias season 3 is now streaming on Netflix, and people all over the world are watching it. Since the show’s release, we have seen tons of questions on the internet about the new season. One question concerns an actor’s recasting. People want to know why Bianca Berry Tarantino isn’t in Sweet Magnolias season 3. We shared everything we know about this young actress’s departure below.

For Sweet Magnolias seasons 1-2, Bianca Berry Tarantino played the role of Katie Townsend. Katie is Maddie and Bill’s youngest child and only daughter together. Throughout the first two seasons, we watched Katie struggle to cope with her parents’ divorce. She also spent a lot of her time with her grandma Paula.

We were looking forward to seeing Bianca reprise her role in the third season, but it was revealed in June 2023 that she had been recast. Why is that? And who replaced her in the third season? Here’s what we know.

Why was Katie Townsend (Bianca Berry Tarantino) recast in Sweet Magnolias season 3?

According to Deadline, Bianca Berry Tarantino left Sweet Magnolias because of scheduling conflicts. It’s been reported that she was unable to join the cast for the third season because she was filming an upcoming Apple TV+ miniseries called Lady in the Lake at the time that the cast and crew started shooting Sweet Magnolias season 3.

Production on Lady in the Lake started in April 2022, and the cameras started rolling on Sweet Magnolias season 3 in July 2022. She was unable to shoot both shows at the same time, so her role as Katie in Sweet Magnolias had to be replaced with another talented young actress.

Who has replaced Bianca in the role of Katie Townsend in Sweet Magnolias?

10-year-old Ella Grace Helton has taken over the role of Katie Townsend in the romantic drama series. You might recognize Helton from her previous roles in the movies Witching Hour and Hubie Halloween. She also played the role of Emily in the comedy series United We Fall. We’ll see her next in the rom-com Chosen Family and the mystery thriller flick The Forfeiture Clause.

Sweet Magnolias season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.