If you thought the secrets of Wisteria Lane were buried with the finale of Desperate Housewives in 2012, think again.
Fans of the iconic 2000s dramedy are buzzing with the news of a potential spin-off, tentatively titled Wisteria Lane.
This new series promises a fresh cast—five new women navigating life on the infamous street, more than a decade after we last visited Fairview.
But while the show’s on-screen drama was legendary, it turns out the real drama happened when the cameras stopped rolling.
Feuds, lawsuits, bullying allegations, and even jail time—what went down behind the scenes could’ve filled several seasons on its own.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes?
While Desperate Housewives followed the chaotic suburban lives of Susan, Bree, Gabrielle, and Lynette, it’s clear that life off-camera was just as intense.
Teri Hatcher (Susan) was reportedly at the center of many disputes, and by the time the show wrapped, things were so strained that her co-stars allegedly excluded her from a farewell crew gift.
Eva Longoria (Gabrielle), Felicity Huffman (Lynette), and Marcia Cross (Bree) left her name off a signed card for the crew’s parting gift. According to insiders, “the girls just didn’t get along with Teri.” And that was just the tip of the iceberg.
The Tension With Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher’s relationships with her castmates were rocky from early on. During Nicollette Sheridan’s (Edie Britt) lawsuit against creator Marc Cherry, it came out that Sheridan allegedly called Hatcher “the meanest woman in the world.” Rumors even circulated that producers considered writing her out of the show.
The infamous Vanity Fair cover shoot in 2005 is another piece of evidence. Castmates reportedly fought over wardrobe and positioning, and Cross stormed off when Hatcher was placed front and center. Ultimately, Hatcher was pushed to the edge of the frame.
Despite it all, Hatcher has consistently denied any bad blood, insisting she had a deep respect for the crew and co-stars. She pointed to her bond with Vanessa Williams, who joined in later seasons, as proof that she could connect with others on set.
Sheridan vs. Cherry: A Legal Battle
Nicollette Sheridan’s exit from the show wasn’t just a creative decision—at least not according to her. She filed a $20 million lawsuit against Marc Cherry, accusing him of physically hitting her during a dispute and later retaliating by writing her off the show.
Though Cherry denied the claims and ABC maintained her character was killed off for storyline reasons, the legal saga dragged on for years. Sheridan’s camp argued the death of her character Edie—who was electrocuted following a car crash—was a symbolic “triple homicide.”
The lawsuit also exposed deep-rooted tensions among the cast. Cherry reportedly brought in TV psychologist Dr. Phil to mediate the constant feuding, even posting signs around set saying, “No backstabbing. Only back-scratching.”
The Infamous Vanity Fair Cover
The Vanity Fair photo shoot was meant to celebrate the success of Desperate Housewives—but it ended up revealing just how fractured things were behind the scenes. From fights over swimsuits to threats of walking off set, the cast’s diva behavior became the stuff of Hollywood legend.
Marcia Cross stormed off in protest of Hatcher’s red swimsuit, and Eva Longoria was furious she didn’t get first pick of the wardrobe. It got so bad that ABC had to release a statement saying the cast was “made to deal with a situation not of their making.” Longoria would later poke fun at the chaos in a Saturday Night Live skit.
Felicity Huffman’s Real-Life Scandal
Years after the series ended, Felicity Huffman found herself in the spotlight again—this time for her role in the infamous college admissions scandal. She was sentenced to two weeks in jail for paying to boost her daughter’s SAT scores.
In a candid interview, Huffman described the arrest as surreal. “I thought it was a joke,” she said, recalling how FBI agents woke her daughters at gunpoint. She admitted she acted out of desperation, fearing her daughter—who has a learning disability—wouldn’t be accepted into college otherwise.
Longoria supported Huffman publicly, crediting her with helping her endure bullying on set. But not everyone was as sympathetic.
Ricardo Chavira Speaks Out
Ricardo Chavira, who played Gabrielle’s husband Carlos, didn’t hold back when commenting on Huffman’s lenient sentence. He called it an example of “white privilege”, adding that he’d witnessed it throughout his time on the show.
As a Latino actor, Chavira said he’d experienced cultural bias firsthand and was frustrated by the disparity in how justice is served. “Accountability doesn’t mean anything to these people,” he posted on social media.
A Child Star’s Struggles
Madison De La Garza, who played Juanita (Gabrielle and Carlos’ daughter), opened up years later about the impact of cruel online comments. Many of her character’s storylines revolved around her weight, and at just seven years old, Madison said she began trying to starve herself.
She developed an eating disorder that she attributes to the relentless bullying and scrutiny from fans and trolls alike. “They said I should die because of how I looked,” she recalled in a heartbreaking podcast interview.
Could the Original Cast Return?
So, will the original ladies of Wisteria Lane be returning for the reboot? Eva Longoria recently hinted at the possibility in an interview with Andy Cohen, but nothing has been confirmed.
Given the drama, grudges, and trauma that linger from the original run, a full reunion might be a tall order. But as Desperate Housewives fans know, anything is possible on Wisteria Lane.