JoAnna Garcia Swisher taking on 'amazing' new role in Sweet Magnolias season 4

After over 30 years in front of the camera as an actress, Sweet Magnolias star JoAnna Garcia Swisher will be adding a new role to her résumé with the release of the upcoming fourth season: director! In an interview with First for Women magazine, Garcia Swisher revealed that she made her directorial debut in an episode of Sweet Magnolias season 4.

Not only has Garcia Swisher broke new ground in her career by taking on directing duties on a project for the first time, but she's breaking ground for the cast of the Netflix series, too. In its first three seasons, no cast members have directed any episodes. Garcia Swisher will be the first in season 4! It's a common practice for actors to try their hand at directing on long-running shows.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher directed Sweet Magnolias season 4 episode

While chatting with the magazine about everything from her role on Reba to her lifestyle brand The Happy Place, Garcia Swisher offered details about the "amazing" and "otherworldly" opportunity to take on a new form of storytelling as a director. The real-life mother of two and on-screen mother of three seems to have perfectly slipped into her new role, and her close bond with her cast definitely helped.

Here's what Garcia Swisher told First magazine about her directorial debut:

"It’s amazing. It’s definitely something that I feel so excited to be able to do, to take that next step in my career, and help tell stories on Sweet Magnolias in a different way than I have from just playing Maddie. Having the opportunity to celebrate and support my cast mates, and being able to be their partner in a different way after being an actor onscreen for so many years — it was just otherworldly."

- JoAnna Garcia Swisher

She didn't reveal which season 4 episode she directed, so we will have to keep an eye out when the season finally hits our watch list. Sweet Magnolias season 4 began filming back in February 2024 and wrapped production in late May. Unfortunately, the season won't be released on Netflix until sometime in 2025, as previously confirmed by the streamer. It's frustrating, but we just have to wait patiently and we'll be pouring it out with the girls again soon.

When season 4 wrapped filming, Garcia Swisher opened up in an Instagram post and called the upcoming season her favorite season "BY FAR." Now we have a little bit more of an inkling why season 4 was such a special one for the actress and now director. She had the chance to have an even more personal experience with her work on the show other than just bringing Maddie to life. Directing allowed her to bring a whole vision to life, and that's an incredible outlet for a creative.

If you're worried that Sweet Magnolias season 4 might be the final season of the fan-favorite Netflix original romantic drama series, don't worry. The showrunner of the series, Sheryl Anderson, shared her hopes that the show would come back for a fifth season. There's no doubt that season 4 will be as popular of a release as the past three and there should be no problem scoring a renewal, giving Garcia Swisher even more opportunities to sit in the director's chair.

Stay tuned for more Sweet Magnolias news and updates from Netflix Life!