Sweet Magnolias fans have been left disappointed after it was confirmed that Carson Rowland will not return as Ty Townsend in season five of the Netflix drama. The actor's departure was confirmed by showrunner Sheryl J Anderson, who told Us Weekly that Rowland had chosen not to return for the forthcoming series.
Rowland's character Ty Townsend departed Serenity on a European music tour with his band in the season four finale, following a brief reconciliation with Annie Sullivan (Anneliese Judge). The couple ultimately separated due to their individual career decisions, leaving their future uncertain.
Anderson explained the decision: 'In his leaving, we wanted to make the best of the situation and look at what happens when people leave the people they love to chase a dream.' Meanwhile, Judge revealed that Rowland 'had some other opportunities that I'm really excited for him about'.
According to Rowland's IMDb profile, he is currently involved in a legal drama titled Henry, which is in post-production. The film follows a lawyer arguing for animal rights in court.
Fans have speculated that Rowland could join the cast of Prime Video's Off Campus for its second season. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Rowland began following several Off Campus stars on Instagram, including Jalen Thomas Brooks and Antonio Cipriano, with the pair following him back. Many believe he could be in the running to portray star Harvard hockey player Jake Connelly from Elle Kennedy's book series, though no official confirmation has been made.
Sweet Magnolias season five premieres on Thursday, June 11, on Netflix.
