Why Most of the Original "Grown-ish" Cast Aren't in Season 5

"Grown-ish" is finally returning for its fifth season on July 20, but this installment will look different in more ways than one. For starters, six original cast members who were part of Zoey's (Yara Shahidi) core group of Cal U buddies are bidding goodbye to the popular show. Season five of the Freeform coming-of-age comedy will follow a brand-new batch of freshmen. While we'll be reuniting with some "Grown-ish" favorites as season regulars - like Zoey, Trevor Jackson's Aaron, and Diggy Simmons's Doug (plus "Black-ish" star Marcus Scribner as Zoey's little brother Junior) - season four officially marks the end of an epic era for most of the original "Grown-ish" cast. Showrunners Zakiyyah Alexander and Courtney Lilly shared with TVLine in March 2022 that while these beloved departing characters might not be the focus moving forward, there's always a possibility they might come back in future episodes. "Francia, Emily, Chlöe, Halle, Luka, and Jordan will always be a part of the -ish' family. This new season isn't a goodbye, we are just expanding the world; there will always be an open door for them to return," they told the outlet following the season four finale. While the trailer for season five reveals that, at the very least, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, and Jordan Buhat will appear in the new installment of "Grown-ish" at some point, you might be curious why they, along with most of the original cast, are not returning as regulars. Well, frankly, the story came to a natural endpoint for many of the characters who graduated last season, but the cast full of up-and-comers have also taken on various new projects that may also have played a role. Here's a refresher on where we left off with all the original "Grown-ish" characters at the end of season four, as well as the new projects that may have led to each actor's decision to not return for season five.