Hulu’s ever-expanding reality TV universe is about to get a sun-soaked, Southern California twist. On April 22, 2026, the streaming giant officially announced the upcoming spinoff The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County, set to premiere later this year. The news, delivered at Hulu’s Get Real House event, marks the first offshoot of the wildly popular Mormon Wives franchise, which has captivated viewers with its unfiltered look into the lives of Mormon women navigating faith, family, scandal, and the world of social media.
The Orange County edition promises a fresh cast and a new set of storylines, but the core drama—balancing tradition and modernity in a tightly knit community—remains front and center. Hulu’s press release teases, “A new group of dynamic young mothers in Orange County collide in a community where beliefs are not just their religion; they are their identity. While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace change, becoming a platform to disrupt the status quo. Scandals and secrets will be revealed, facades will crumble, and families and friendships will change forever on both sides of the battlefield as this group of strong, game-changing influencers comes together to build their answer to #MomTok.”
Leading the new cast are social media standouts and young mothers Aspyn Ovard, Bobbi Althoff, Avery Woods, Salomé Andrea, McCall DaPron, Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease, and Madison Bontempo. Each brings her own following and unique backstory to the table. Aspyn Ovard, for instance, has drawn headlines after divorcing her husband of nearly nine years in 2024 and entering a new relationship with Bri Davis, who was already married to another man—a development that even People magazine covered earlier this year. Bobbi Althoff hosts the popular “The Really Good Podcast,” while Avery Woods leads the “Cheers” podcast and maintains a strong TikTok presence. Salomé Andrea is both a TikTok personality and a family vlogger, and McCall DaPron—sister of original Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley—is a self-described “wife, mom x4, former D1 tennis player, sourdough baker” from Orange County. Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease, and Madison Bontempo round out the cast, each with their own digital platforms and entrepreneurial ventures.
The spinoff’s production is helmed by Jeff Jenkins Productions, working alongside 3BMG and Walt Disney Television Alternative. Executive producers include Jeff Jenkins, Russell Jay-Staglik, Amanda Weinstein, Melissa Bidwell, and Brandon Beck from Jeff Jenkins Productions, joined by Ross Weintraub and Reinout Oerlemans at 3BMG, as well as Georgia Berger, Lisa Filipelli, and Danielle Pistotnik at Select Entertainment. The team is aiming to capture the same blend of authenticity and spectacle that made the original series a hit, but with a distinctly Orange County flavor.
The timing of the announcement is notable, coming as the original Secret Lives of Mormon Wives faces its own share of real-life drama. Production on Season 5 was paused earlier this year due to a domestic violence investigation involving cast member Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. According to TMZ, the incident was reported on March 15, 2026, with both parties making allegations. People later confirmed that filming had stopped, with a source stating, “Taylor has some pretty serious stuff happening regarding her past, and they will see what happens. Until that resolves, they are off.”
Disney’s reality chief Rob Mills addressed the situation candidly in comments to The Hollywood Reporter, explaining, “That does not mean that immediately we got cameras up. This has been a pretty significant break. We have to look at where everyone is, what the stories will be. So I would say right now we are in active preproduction, and we’re figuring that out.” As for Taylor’s return, Mills emphasized, “In terms of Taylor, first and foremost for me is just making sure that on a human level, she’s good and being taken care of. And we’ll discuss the professional stuff once you get past all of that.”
The fallout from the domestic violence case has rippled through the original cast. Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s relationship, which played out on the show, ended after revelations of infidelity. Taylor, who shares a son named Ever with Dakota, recounted during the season two premiere, “Right after Ever was born, Dakota and I were living together and in bliss with our new baby, and I was even considering engagement. And then I learned that he was lying this entire time.” Dakota has denied cheating, but the drama escalated when a video of a 2023 physical altercation surfaced, leading ABC to cancel Taylor’s planned appearance as the lead on season 22 of The Bachelorette in March 2026.
Meanwhile, the original Mormon Wives cast members are forging their own paths. Jen Affleck, for example, has reflected on her journey with candor, writing on Instagram, “I didn’t know what would come from it but I knew I wanted to share my story. I hoped it could inspire someone or feel relatable. I wanted to be honest about what it’s like being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, the beauty and the struggles.” Jen and her husband Zac Affleck, who have three children, have faced public speculation about their marriage but remain committed to each other. “We’re working on just tuning out the noise of the world—I think it still is hard for him,” she told E! News in November 2025.
Other original cast members have experienced their own ups and downs. Whitney Leavitt and her husband Connor renewed their vows in February 2026 for their 10th anniversary, after weathering personal struggles and rumors. Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura filed for divorce in March 2026 after five years of marriage, with Jessi expressing surprise at the sudden split. Mayci Neeley, whose sister McCall joins the O.C. spinoff, found love again after personal tragedy and now has a growing family with Jacob Neeley. The original cast’s absence from the new spinoff signals a passing of the torch to a new generation of Mormon moms ready to share their stories—and their secrets—with the world.
The O.C. spinoff’s focus on social media influencers is no accident. As Hulu’s press materials point out, these women are “game-changing influencers” who have built their own platforms in the #MomTok universe. Their reach extends far beyond the show, and their willingness to share personal highs and lows has resonated with millions. The franchise’s blend of faith, family, and viral moments is as potent as ever, and the Orange County edition promises to raise the stakes.
With production underway and anticipation building, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County is poised to deliver another round of revelations, heartbreak, and headline-making moments. Whether the new cast can match the original’s blend of relatability and spectacle remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the secrets—and the drama—are just getting started.