The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is expanding into one of reality television’s founding landmarks of Orange County.
Hulu confirmed the spinoff (after reports about the new series circulated almost exactly a month ago) and unveiled the cast for the new Mormon Wives extension Wednesday night at their second Get Real House event. Joining the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County are Aspyn Ovard, Avery Woods, Salomé Andrea, McCall DaPron, Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease and Madison Bontempo.
Notably, DaPron is the sister to main Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley. Ovard is a prominent YouTuber who rose to acclaim on YouTube and has maintained her presence online.
Notably missing from the cast list is Jen Affleck, a star from the original series. People reported on the news of the spinoff on March 23, and listed Affleck as the only castmember from the main Utah-based series that was set to swap shows.
The announcement of the new spinoff arrived a day after it was revealed that production on the mainstay series has resumed. Cameras went down due to an internal domestic violence investigation involving Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex Dakota Mortensen, alongside two investigations held by police in Utah.
On April 14, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office revealed they would not pursue new charges against Paul following the separate investigations led by the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department. And earlier on Wednesday, before the spinoff was confirmed, a source told THR that the team behind the show wants her to return and has been supportive of Paul amid the turbulence she’s faced over the past few months, but only if and when she is ready.
The logline for reads The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County as follows: “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. This is The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County.”
Mormon Wives adding Orange County to its franchise list notably follows in the footsteps of Bravo’s mainstay Real Housewives franchise. The Real Housewives of Orange County was the first series to debut 20 years ago in the network’s sprawling universe, cementing the SoCal county as an iconic reality television location.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County is produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions, in association with 3BMG and Walt Disney Television Alternative. Executive producers include Jeff Jenkins, Russell Jay-Staglik, Amanda Weinstein, Melissa Bidwell and Brandon Beck at Jeff Jenkins Productions; Ross Weintraub and Reinout Oerlemans at 3BMG; and Georgia Berger, Lisa Filipelli and Danielle Pistotnik at Select Entertainment.
