Filming of the fifth season of the popular reality series, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” has been suspended due to ongoing legal troubles involving one of its stars, Taylor Frankie Paul. This unexpected halt has left the show’s future in a precarious position, prompting speculation among fans and industry insiders alike.
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In November 2025, Hulu announced that it had renewed the series for an additional 20 episodes. Executive producer Jeff Jenkins indicated that filming for new episodes would typically be conducted in blocks, allowing for efficient production. As the fourth season concluded in October 2025, after which Paul was set to participate in “The Bachelorette,” filming for season five was anticipated to start shortly thereafter, likely in early 2026.
However, as reported by multiple sources, production was halted in March 2026 amid serious allegations concerning Paul and her former partner, Dakota Mortensen. The Draper City Police Department confirmed an open investigation into domestic violence involving the former couple, with claims surfacing from both sides. This investigation prompted ABC to cancel Paul’s participation in “The Bachelorette” after troubling footage emerged from a prior confrontation, leading to her pleading guilty to a felony count of aggravated assault—a charge that could be downgraded to a misdemeanor if she adheres to her plea agreement.
In addition to the ongoing issues with Mortensen, reports suggest Paul is also under investigation for another incident of domestic violence that allegedly occurred in 2024. As of now, authorities have not responded to requests for clarification regarding this additional inquiry.
Jessi Draper, another cast member, confirmed to E! News that filming for season five had commenced in March, but the production came to a standstill shortly after. An insider mentioned that the crew collectively decided to pause filming, acknowledging the serious nature of the events surrounding Paul. “They are not filming,” the insider stated, underscoring that until the situation is resolved, production will remain inactive.
Despite the problems, Jenkins had previously indicated that the future of the series would depend on audience demand. Hulu has not publicly addressed the delay or provided any updates on the continuation of filming.
Opinions from the cast on the situation have varied, with Mikayla Matthews and others making it clear that the decision to pause was not taken lightly and was reached collectively for the welfare of everyone involved. In an interview, Paul admitted being uncertain about the timeline for resuming production, further adding to the murky outlook for the upcoming season.
Draper, speaking on a podcast, elaborated on the focus of the cast at the moment, emphasizing their priority on managing personal matters before returning to filming. “We are trying to prioritize our well-being, and when we’re ready, we’ll get back to it,” she remarked, implying that the underlying drama that characterises their lives would ensure continued interest in the series, should it return.
Amid the uncertainty regarding the current series, there is news of a spinoff titled “Mormon Wives,” which is reportedly in production and is set to take place in Orange County, California. This new show is expected to feature Jen Affleck, along with several new cast members, and is anticipated to start filming in spring 2026 for a planned premiere later that year.
For those eager to catch up on the series, all four seasons of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” remain available for streaming on Hulu. As the situation unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see how the story of the Mormon wives continues, either through the current series or its forthcoming spinoff.