The wait is almost over for Ginny & Georgia fans, as Netflix has officially announced that Season 4 of the beloved mother-daughter dramedy will premiere in January 2026. After the explosive Season 3 finale, which dropped on June 5, 2025, left viewers reeling with cliffhangers—Georgia’s pregnancy, Ginny’s moral descent, and a town full of secrets—the anticipation for the next chapter is at an all-time high. However, the excitement is tinged with outrage following the bombshell news that one key cast member will not return, sparking a firestorm of backlash across social media. Here’s everything we know about Season 4’s release, the missing cast member, and why fans are up in arms.

A Long-Awaited Return to Wellsbury

Since its debut in February 2021, Ginny & Georgia has captivated audiences with its blend of family drama, coming-of-age struggles, and dark secrets. Starring Brianne Howey as the cunning Georgia Miller and Antonia Gentry as her sharp-witted daughter Ginny, the series has thrived on its complex characters and jaw-dropping plot twists. Season 3, which tackled Georgia’s murder trial and Ginny’s transformation into a manipulative force, ended with a shocking revelation: Georgia is pregnant, with the father’s identity—Paul, Joe, or possibly Zion—still a mystery. The season also saw young Austin frame his abusive father, Gil, for murder, cementing the Miller family’s descent into moral ambiguity.

Netflix’s double renewal for Seasons 3 and 4 in May 2023 ensured that fans would return to Wellsbury, Massachusetts, for more chaos. According to a recent Tudum article, Season 4’s official theme is “Cycles and Origins,” promising a deep dive into Georgia’s past and the consequences of her children’s choices. Show creator Sarah Lampert has teased that the season will explore “the burden” Georgia has placed on Ginny and Austin, with Brianne Howey adding that Georgia’s journey will include therapy to break her destructive cycles. With the writers’ room kicking off in February 2025, as announced on the show’s Instagram, production has moved swiftly, setting the stage for the January 2026 premiere—a shorter gap than the two-year waits between previous seasons.

The Shocking Cast Departure

Amid the excitement, Netflix dropped a bombshell: Felix Mallard, who plays Marcus Baker, Ginny’s on-again, off-again love interest, will not return for Season 4. Marcus, the brooding teen next door, has been a fan favorite since Season 1, with his tumultuous relationship with Ginny—marked by love confessions, breakups, and struggles with alcoholism—serving as a cornerstone of the show’s emotional stakes. Season 3 saw Marcus hit rock bottom, failing his school year and entering rehab after his twin sister, Max, exposed his drinking to their parents. His arc ended on a bittersweet note, with Ginny spending the summer with her father, Zion, in South Korea, leaving their future uncertain.

The decision to write out Marcus has ignited fury among fans, who view his character as integral to Ginny’s growth. On X, fans have expressed their dismay, with one user posting, “No Marcus in S4? Are you KIDDING me? Ginny & Marcus are endgame! This is a betrayal! 😡 #GinnyAndGeorgia.” Another wrote, “Felix Mallard carried the teen drama. Without Marcus, what’s the point? Netflix, you’re ruining this show! #SaveMarcus.” The hashtag #SaveMarcus has trended, with petitions circulating to bring Mallard back. Some speculate that his exit stems from scheduling conflicts, as Mallard has taken on roles in projects like Apple TV’s M3GAN 2.0, set for release in 2025. Others fear the writers are pivoting away from the Ginny-Marcus romance to focus on new love interests or Ginny’s independence.

In a June 2025 interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Sara Waisglass, who plays Max, hinted at Marcus’s absence, noting that Max ends Season 3 in a “solitary place” after falling out with her brother. While Netflix has not confirmed whether Marcus’s exit is permanent—leaving open the possibility of a guest appearance—the lack of clarity has only fueled fans’ frustration. Showrunner Sarah Glinski’s comment to Tudum that “no one in the Miller family will be the same” after Season 3 now feels ominous, with Marcus’s departure signaling a major shift in the show’s dynamic.

What to Expect in Season 4

Despite the controversy, Season 4 promises to deliver the high-stakes drama Ginny & Georgia is known for. The returning cast includes Brianne Howey as Georgia, Antonia Gentry as Ginny, Diesel La Torraca as Austin, Nathan Mitchell as Zion, Scott Porter as Paul, Raymond Ablack as Joe, Sara Waisglass as Max, Katie Douglas as Abby, Chelsea Clark as Norah, and Jennifer Robertson as Ellen. New characters, including members of Georgia’s extended family, are expected to debut, shedding light on her chaotic upbringing. Howey told StyleCaster that the stakes will be “higher than ever,” with “heartbreak, redemption, and chaos” driving the narrative.

A key focus will be Georgia’s pregnancy and the mystery of the baby’s father. Lampert confirmed to Tudum that the paternity question—whether Paul, Joe, or Zion—will be resolved, with each man bringing out a different side of Georgia. The pregnancy also complicates Georgia’s fractured relationships with her children, especially after Ginny and Austin’s actions during the trial. Ginny, now embracing her mother’s manipulative tactics, will return from South Korea as a “badass,” according to Gentry, with a new hairstyle and a stronger sense of identity. Her junior year of high school, teased as “hell year,” will test her resilience without Marcus by her side.

Zion’s role is set to expand, with Nathan Mitchell’s character navigating joint custody of Ginny and a strained co-parenting dynamic with Georgia. The voicemail Zion leaves for Georgia, teased in earlier reports, remains a mystery but is expected to be a pivotal moment early in Season 4. Some fans speculate it could involve a custody battle or a revelation about Georgia’s past crimes, further complicating their relationship. Meanwhile, Paul’s re-election campaign and Joe’s emotional connection with Georgia will add layers to the romantic drama, while Max, Abby, and Norah grapple with their own personal struggles.

Fan Backlash and the Road Ahead

The outcry over Felix Mallard’s exit underscores the passion of Ginny & Georgia’s fanbase, which has propelled the show to Netflix’s all-time most-watched lists. Season 2 alone recorded 568.51 million hours viewed in its first seven weeks, per Netflix’s Top 10 data, and Season 3’s viral trial storyline has kept the show in the cultural zeitgeist. Fans have taken to X to voice their theories, with some suggesting Marcus could return in a later season, while others fear his absence will shift the show’s focus too heavily toward Georgia’s drama at the expense of the teen storylines.

Lampert has remained coy about the backlash, telling Deadline that while Season 4 was initially pitched as the final season, the writers’ room is exploring possibilities for a fifth. “There’s actually more there,” she said, hinting at new storylines that could address fans’ concerns. For now, the loss of Marcus feels like a gamble for a show that thrives on its ensemble chemistry. As one X user put it, “Marcus’s pain was what made Ginny’s story real. Without him, it’s just not the same. Netflix better have a plan.”

A Season of Reckoning

With filming set to begin in late 2025, per industry reports, Ginny & Georgia Season 4 is poised to be a rollercoaster of emotions. The January 2026 premiere will bring answers to burning questions—Who is the father of Georgia’s baby? How will Ginny cope without Marcus? What does Zion’s voicemail reveal?—while introducing fresh conflicts and faces. Yet, the absence of Felix Mallard casts a shadow over the excitement, leaving fans to wonder if the show can recapture its magic without one of its heartbeats.

As Wellsbury braces for another round of secrets and scandals, one thing is clear: Ginny & Georgia remains unafraid to take risks. Whether those risks pay off—or further alienate its devoted fanbase—will be the ultimate test when Season 4 drops. For now, fans are left to mourn Marcus’s exit, rally behind #SaveMarcus, and brace for a season that promises to be, in Lampert’s words, “a RIDE.”