Desperate Housewives had even more drama off-screen! As Wisteria Lane is revamped, how stars fought fall-outs, court cases and scandals Desperate Housewives is set for a reboot with 'Wisteria Lane' coming to screens READ MORE: The Real Housewives who make Cheshire’s feuding Wags look like pussycats By BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES FOR MAILONLINE Published: 11:17 BST, 2 May 2025 | Updated: 11:30 BST, 2 May 2025 Desperate Housewives fans are brimming with excitement at the news the cult noughties show is being revamped. A spin-off, provisionally named Wisteria Lane, will follow five new friends who live on the idyllic Fairview street - 13 years on from when the critically-acclaimed show ended. The noughties mystery-dramedy saw Susan Meyer (Teri Hatcher), Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross) and Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) navigate their lives in suburbia - while dealing with death, adultery and domestic struggles, all while keeping up the perfect white-picket fence appearance. And while the show, which ran from 2004 and 2012 and at its peak was the most popular show in the world, was filled with drama -the lives of the stars off screen were perhaps even more scandalous, with the cast navigating on-set fall-outs, alleged bullying, multi-million pound lawsuits and - for some - even prison stints. On screen, the four main cast played best friends, but the reality was far from that, in fact tensions were so high on set by the end of the show's run that Longoria, Cross, and Huffman left Hatcher off a leaving gift they got for the crew on the last episode. Elsewhere, Longoria said she was 'bullied' on set by an unnamed party, while British-born Nicollette Sheridan, who played the coquettish Edie Britt, took the show's creator Marc Cherry to court for unfair dismissal - and claimed he hit her on set. Heartbreak also followed many of the stars after the show wrapped. After leaving the show Richard Burgi, who played Karl Meyer, was fired from The Young and the Restless for breaking the show's Covid policy, while Drea de Matteom- who played eco-terrorist and transient housewife Angie Bolen - experienced an explosion in real life when her New York apartment blew up due to a gas fault. Desperate Housewives fans are brimming with excitement at the news the cult noughties show is being revamped. From left: Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo and Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer. Behind: Mary Alice Young played by Brenda Strong The noughties mystery-dramedy saw Susan Meyer (Teri Hatcher, right), Gabrielle Solis ( Eva Longoria, centre ), Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross, second left) and Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman, second right) navigate their lives in suburbia - while dealing with death, adultery and domestic struggles, all while keeping up the perfect white-picket fence appearance. Nicollette Sheridan as Edit Britt, left Meanwhile, Huffman faced soap-level drama when she was sentenced to two-weeks in prison for her part in the College Admissions Scandal. Ricardo Chavira, who played Carlos Solis, then hinted at more tension on set when he slammed the short the sentence and said she had 'white privilege'. And he's not the only desperate husbands who's faced his fair share of Wisteria Lane level drama off-screen. Steven Culp, who played Bree's husband Rex Van De Camp, suffered unimaginable heartbreak when his sister, her husband and two children were murdered by a serial killer. The family were victims of Ricky Javon Gray and his nephew Ray Joseph Dandridge, who murdered seven people, including children. FALL OUT WITH TERI HATCHER From the very start of the show, it was clear there was tension between Hatcher and the rest of the cast. It appeared to accumulate in the final season when the leading stars of the cult ABC show, brought a joint gift for the crew. But in a sensational twist, worthy of the show itself, Teri's name was left off the card. From the very start of the show, it was clear there was tension between Hatcher and the rest of the cast. From left: Marcia Cross, Nicolette Sheridan, Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria It appeared to accumulate in the final season when th e leading stars of the cult ABC show, brought a joint gift for the crew The gift card on the Soren branded carry on luggage read: 'Just know that on all your future adventures you are carrying a little piece of our love and gratitude. Thank you for a magical 8 years,' It was signed off in fancy printed italic script: 'Love Eva, Marcia, Felicity and Vanessa.,' referring to Vanessa Williams who starred in the final seasons. 'The girls don't get along with Teri so they organised this and left her out,' a production source told CelebBuzz at the time. And it wasn't the first time there's been a suggestion that Hatcher is unpopular with her co-stars. During Nicollette Sheridan's court case against Cherry, the television executive testified that Sheridan had once told him that Hatcher was the 'meanest woman in the world.' It also emerged during the trial that bosses had considered writing Hatcher out of the show in series five. And during the cast's Vanity Fair cover in 2005, Cross and Longoria reportedly threatened to walk off if they posed with Hatcher in the centre - and she ended up on the far left of frame. Bosses had considered writing Hatcher out of the show in series five. She is pictured in 2025 In 2023, a former Desperate Housewives writer revealed it was a 'miracle' that the hit series ever got made because of chaotic behind-the-scenes drama – adding that staff would actively avoid Hatcher Speaking in 2007, Longoria hinted at the cast's estrangement from Hatcher in a 2007 interview. 'Flick and I live down the street from each other. 'When (ex-husband) Tony [Parker] is in town, Marcia and I get together with our husbands - those two are big basketball fans. And Nicollette and I go shopping all the time.' She didn't mention Hatcher. At the time, TV Guide magazine expert William Keck suggested that Hatcher 'physically separates herself from the others during breaks in filming,' adding, 'Something went down two seasons ago that created a deep rift.' In 2023, a former writer on the show revealed it was a 'miracle' that the hit series ever got made because of chaotic behind-the-scenes drama – adding that staff would actively avoid Hatcher. Patty Lin worked as a writer on the show and exposed shocking stories from the set and the writers' room in her memoir End Credits. She said that the crew would try not to capture Hatcher's attention. 'Usually, we'd see the cast only at table reads where we'd sit quietly at the back and try not to make eye contact with Teri Hatcher,' she penned. In 2023, a former writer on the show revealed it was a 'miracle' that the hit series ever got made because of chaotic behind-the-scenes drama – adding that staff would actively avoid Hatcher (pictured) In 2013, Hatcher dismissed rumours that she feuded with the crew. 'That crew knows I'd have jumped in front of a bus for them at any moment,' she said. 'I was beyond generous throughout those eight years and any crew member will tell you that, so it doesn't matter what anybody writes. 'I don't really know who gave or did what. I know what I did, and I can look in the mirror at myself in a good way about the people I worked with and how much respect I had for them.' Speaking to the Daily Mail after the end of the show, Hatcher praised her co-stars. 'There's just nobody else who could have brought those characters to life, and I honour every single one of them for what they brought to that journey and have never ever wished any of them anything but greatness and will continue to do that, so that's pretty much all I have to say about that,'. 'What I will say is that, although she was a late addition, Vanessa Williams and me are pretty good friends. 'In fact, she was the one who just set me up on a blind date, the first date I've had in two-and-a-half years. 'We probably had the most in common off-screen because we're both single mums, we're both the breadwinner and always have been and we're pretty much the same age. 'I think that uniquely defines a person. Marcia Cross and Shawn Pyfrom are pictured in the show Despite the drama from some stars, Kathryn Joosten, who played Karen McClusksy said in her last interview that Hather 'was the nicest person on set' and the other stars were cliquely. From left: Dana Delany as Katherine Mayfair, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Brie Van De Kamp. Centre, lying down, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, Front, Teri Hatcher as Susan Meyer. Right: Nicolette Sheridan as Edie Britt 'It's not having a husband who works so can take half the burden. 'It's not having children and being able to do whatever you want. It's not being single and young. 'They're all a great life, but being a single mother and the sole breadwinner is a very different definition. 'I think Vanessa and I bonded over that because we really did give a similar amount of energy to our jobs. Teri Hatcher reveals why she was kicked off Hinge 'If anything, I think the separation between the cast is that I just had a different life and a different priority, which was my daughter.' Despite the drama from some stars, Kathryn Joosten, who played Karen McClusksy said in her last interview that Hather 'was the nicest person on set' and the other stars were cliquely. Meanwhile, Susan's onscreen husband James Denton (Mike Delfino), are said to have had a great working relationship and recently starred in a movie together. NICOLETTE SHERIDAN'S LAWSUIT... AND ALLEGATIONS OF VIOLENCE ON SET Husband-stealing Edit Britt, played by Nicolette Sheridan, became a fan favourite in the show. Despite being cast as a villain, the buxom blonde won praise for her outrageous antics and quick-wit until she was unceremoniously killed off at the end of season 5. The reason? Sheridan claims she fell out with the show's creator Marc Cherry - leading to him 'slapping her'. Sheridan took her former employer to court, suing for $20million after alleging he slapped her across the face and later fired her for complaining about his violent behaviour. One of the show's most memorable characters, fans were shocked when Edie Britt died toward the end of season five Despite being cast as a villain, the buxom blonde won praise for her outrageous antics and quick-wit until she was unceremoniously killed off at the end of season 5 She claimed her dismissal by Marc Cherry from the popular series lost her 'millions in future earnings'. Sheridan, who earned £4million a year, said that Cherry was known on set for his 'abusive and aggressive' behaviour. The lawsuit says matters came to a head in September 2008 after she questioned him over the script. Sheridan claims she tried to meet Cherry privately 'in an effort to discuss his negative demeanour toward her and to discuss whether he had a problem with her work,' the lawsuit claimed. 'When Sheridan questioned Cherry about something that was in the script, Cherry took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head.' Stunned by the blow, Sheridan shouted back: 'You just hit me in the head. That is not okay. That is not okay,' according to the lawsuit. Sheridan, who also starred in Knots Landing, says Cherry later went to her trailer to 'beg forgiveness' after she reported him to executives at ABC TV. The actress insists she felt 'apprehension of imminent physical harm' for the rest of her time on the show. Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria, Marc Cherry, Nicollette Sheridan and Teri Hatcher. Miss Sheridan claims she tried to meet Cherry privately 'in an effort to discuss his negative demeanour toward her and to discuss whether he had a problem with her work,' the lawsuit says The documents filed at Los Angeles Superior Court also reveal the Sussex-born actress was not the only cast member Cherry allegedly had a grudge against. After a clash with Teri Hatcher, who plays Susan Mayer, Cherry is alleged to have said: 'I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies'. Four months after the alleged slapping incident in February 2009, Sheridan was told her character was being written out and her contract terminated. Eva Longoria, 50, talks possibility of a Desperate Housewives revival It was then the vamp of the Desperate Housewives' original five, died from electrocution in the aftermath of a dramatic car crash. 'The decision to kill off Sheridan's character demonstrates that Cherry and ABC intended to and did retaliate against Sheridan for her complaints about Cherry,' the lawsuit says. After a mistrial and several years in and out of court, the case was eventually dismissed. ABC denied it fired Sheridan or retaliated against her. Cherry and several executives with the show and the company previously testified that the decision to kill off the role was made before the alleged slap. Cherry also lifted the lid on a vipers' nest of bitchiness between the show's principal women stars. He revealed that the most incendiary relationship was between Sussex-born Sheridan and Hatcher. He claimed tensions between the two were so volatile that he had to break them up after Sheridan branded her rival 'the meanest woman in the world' to her face. The actress insists she felt 'apprehension of imminent physical harm' for the rest of her time on the show, in year long court battles Things got so bad that Cherry recruited television psychologist Dr Phil McGraw to hold regular therapy sessions in a bid to stop the squabbling between the women and fellow actresses Cross, Longoria, Huffman and Dana Delany [who played Katherine Mayfair]. He even put up signs around the set saying: 'No backstabbing. Only back-scratching.' The co-stars were said to have been 'relieved' when Sheridan was fired (Huffman immediately took over her recently-redecorated trailer). In her final episode, she was seen escaping after being strangled by her husband only for her car to hit a tree. She survived the crash, but was electrocuted by a fallen power line. Her lawyers described the brutal demise as a 'triple homicide'. VANITY FAIR DRAMA As one of the biggest shows on television, it's no surprise that in 2005 the five queens of Wisteria Lane landed a Vanity Fair cover. But they soon found themselves at each other's throats. As one of the biggest shows on television, it's no surprise that in 2005 the five queens of Wisteria Lane landed a Vanity Fair cover. Tensions over who got first choice of the swimsuits and who stood where meant the housewives turned into the most demanding of diva, in what's become one of the magazines most infamous covers. The tensions were so great they vowed never to pose as a group again. First to take exception was Marcia Cross. The auburn-haired beauty stormed off after taking umbrage at co-star Hatcher's sexy red swimsuit. 'When Cross saw that Hatcher was beside her in an eyepopping cherry-red bathing suit, she exploded, grabbed her bathrobe and walked off the set,' a Vanity Fair reporter wrote. Sheridan was eventually placed between them. Before the trouble broke out, she assured Vanity Fair: 'Morale is really high. From the cast to the crew, everybody's really happy to be part of such an incredible machine.' Hatcher, who also upset co-star Eva Longoria, who was said to be seething because Miss Hatcher had first pick of the swimsuits. 'Hatcher was the first to arrive and she cheerfully made her way to the wardrobe trailer (which, according to standard Hollywood protocol operates on a first-come, first-served basis),' a reporter for Vanity Fair wrote. The actors are pictured in the show. From left: Nicollette Sheridan, Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Jesse Metcalfe struggled with his sobriety after leaving the show Jesse Metcalfe and Eva Longoria on the show 'The assistant yelled: 'You've got to stop her. She can't go in there first! This is a problem. I'm getting text messages from Eva. Everything is not fine'.' The magazine ran with the headline: 'You Won't Believe What It Took Just To Get This Photo!' The shoot was so bad in fact that ABC released a statement in regard to it. Where are Gossip Girl's ORIGINAL stars now? As the trailer for HBO Max's reboot sends fans into a frenzy, FEMAIL reveals what has happened to the cast of the first show - from global fame to furious scandals 'While negotiating certain elements of photo shoots is standard practice, and was part of our coordination with Vanity Fair, this shoot simply did not go as planned. Because of this, our talent were made to deal as best they could with a situation not of their making. This one isolated incident does not define these women or their relationship,'. Longoria, seemingly got the last laugh when she parodied the shoot while hosting Saturday Night Live years later. FELICITY HUFFMAN'S PRISON SPELL Seven years after she wrapped on desperate housewives, Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in jail who her involvement in the college admissions scandal. The actress paid Rick Singer $15,000 to fudge her daughter Sophia's SAT scores in order to land her a place at college and was among a group of wealthy, famous parents swept up in the scandal - including Lori Loughlin. Huffman, who is married to William H Macy, paid $30,000 in fines and spent 11 days in jail after being charged with fraud in 2019. Seven years after she wrapped on desperate housewives, Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in jail who her involvement in the college admissions scandal Huffman, who is married to William H Macy, paid $30,000 in fines and spent 11 days in jail after being charged with fraud in 2019 In her first public remarks outside of the courtroom, she said she thought it was 'a joke' when FBI agents turned up at her mansion to arrest her 'They came into my home, they woke my daughters up at gunpoint - again, nothing new to the black and brown community - then they put my hands behind my back and handcuffed me. 'I asked if I could get dressed. I thought it was a hoax. I literally turned to one of the FBI people in a flak jacket and a gun and I go 'is this a joke?' Huffman said she regretted the scheme but felt she had no choice at the time because Sophia, who she previously said has a learning disability, would not have been accepted otherwise. 'It felt like I had to give my daughter a chance at a future. And so it was sort of like my daughter's future, which meant I had to break the law,' she said. 'I think I feel the people I owe a debt and an apology to is the academic community and to the students and the families that sacrifice and work really hard to get to where they are going legitimately.' 'I want to use my experience and what I've gone through and the pain to bring something good,' she said. Huffman and Macy hired Singer to help Sophia improve her scores in order to get into college. Huffman (pictured in the show) said she regretted the scheme but felt she had no choice at the time because Sophia, who she previously said has a learning disability, would not have been accepted otherwise She claims the scheme was not obvious at first, but became plain when Singer told them Sophia would not be accepted into any schools without greasing the wheels. 'After a year, he started to say your daughter is not going to get into any of the colleges that she wants to. 'And I believed him. And so when he slowly started to present the criminal scheme, it seems like - and I know this seems crazy at the time - but that was my only option to give my daughter a future. 'And I know hindsight is 20/20 but it felt like I would be a bad mother if I didn't do it. 'So - I did it,' she said. Sophia was unaware that her parents had paid for someone to alter her test answers after she completed the SATS. The scheme involved Singer paying off a handful of discreet SAT test supervisors who would inflate students' scores once they had completed the exam. On the day of the SAT test, she said Sophia was nervous and asking if they could go for ice cream afterwards. 'She was going, 'Can we get ice cream afterwards?'' Huffman recalls. 'I'm scared about the test. The scheme involved Singer paying off a handful of discreet SAT test supervisors who would inflate students' scores once they had completed the exam 'What can we do that's fun? And I kept thinking, turn around, just turn around. 'And to my undying shame, I didn't,' Huffman said. Longoria wrote a letter to the court in support of Huffman for helping her 'survive' bullying on the set of Desperate Housewives. 'Felicity was the first one to take me under her wing. From the first table read of the script, she noticed me sitting alone, scared and unsure of where to and what to do. 'Her gentle character and kind heart immediately opened up to me. She approached me, introduced herself and said, "Don't be scared, we will get through this together," as she sat down beside me and never left my side since that day. 'I dreaded the days I had to work with that person [I was being bullied by] because it was pure torture. 'Until one day, Felicity told the bully "enough" and it all stopped. 'Felicity could feel that I was riddled with anxiety even though I never complained or mentioned the abuse to anyone. 'I know I would not have survived those 10 years if it wasn't for the friendship of Felicity.' WHITE PRIVILEGE ALLEGATIONS Felicity Huffman's former Desperate Housewives castmate Ricardo Chavira has slammed her 14-day sentence as 'white privilege'. The actors are pictured together here on the show Felicity Huffman (pictured lleaving court with husband William H. Macy) was sentenced to 14-days in prison after pleading guilty in the college admissions cheating scandal Huffman and Chavira pictured top left with their fellow castmates Eva Longoria, Brenda Strong and Nicollette Sheridan at the 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2005 While Longoria was supportive of Huffman - her on-screen husband Ricardo Chavira was less so. Chavira, who played businessman Carlos Solis, took to X - then known as Twitter - to slam the sentence as 'not long enough'. 'White Privilege. And I saw eight years worth of it, so I know what I'm talking about. Accountability and responsibility don't mean [s–t] to these people.' 'I saw eight years worth of it working on Housewives. 'I've seen a lifetime of it being a halfbreed, and I've struggled with the intricacies of it on a daily basis with all the cultural bias I've received on both ends. But whatever. Slap on the wrist. Sorry, but this is [s–t].' What Gen Z really think of Sex And The City, from the men to the sex scenes and the fashion 'But it's not about race. Tired of stupid people and their stupid arguments. If you haven’t lived it, you really have no say. Stay in your lane.' CHILDREN'S EATING DISORDERS Madison De La Garza, who played Gabby and Carlos daughter Juanita, said she devloped an eating disorder aged 7 after starring on the show. Many of the character's storylines were based around her weight, leading to cruel trolls to attack her appearance. Speaking on the Heart of the Matter podcast, the actress, who is the sister of Demi Lovato, recalled her 'first memories of trying to starve myself' at age 7 after reading cruel comments about her appearance online. 'The reactions that I got to my character on Desperate Housewives, it was just shocking,' she said. 'A lot of people came at it in a way that they were 'concerned for my health.' 'And I personally believe that that's just not true, that that was a cover-up so that they could just judge a 6-year-old.' She said she would sneak online and he spend 'hours and hours' reading comments on YouTube videos and TMZ. 'I would just spend a crazy amount of time reading through these comments, and most all of them were just atrocious. 'They said things like they wanted me to die because of what I looked like. Madison De La Garza, who played Gabby and Carlos daughter Juanita, said she devloped an eating disorder aged 7 after starring on the show Many of the character's storylines were based around her weight, leading to cruel trolls to attack her appearance Speaking on the Heart of the Matter podcast, the actress, who is the sister of Demi Lovato, recalled her 'first memories of trying to starve myself' at age 7 after reading cruel comments about her appearance online. Pictured on the show She said she would sneak online and he spend 'hours and hours' reading comments on YouTube videos and TMZ 'It was just horrible. This was when I was 7, 8 years old. 'Reading comments like that definitely affected my mental health and ultimately played into me developing an eating disorder at a very young age.' Will the original cast appear in the reboot? Speaking about the possibilty of a reboot, Eva Longoria told Andy Cohen Marc Cherry had 'exhausted the characters'. 'It's unlike Sex and the City, which was only, like, six episodes, eight episodes a year. We did 24 episodes a year. For a decade.' When Cohen asked if she still gets, 'healthy residual checks' from the show, she would only offer a smile and add, 'I do well.' According to Variety, the official logline says the show is 'set around a group of 5 very different friends and sometimes frenemies who all live on a picture-perfect cul de sac called 'Wisteria Lane.' 'On the surface, all the Wisteria neighbors are living the dream. Beautiful homes, gorgeous families, shiny SUVs in the driveway — but behind those white picket fences and smiling Insta posts, are secrets,' according to the show's summary In June, former cast member Longoria stated Desperate Housewives would be 'cancelled' if the dark comedy were to be on screens in the modern day. The actress played loveable supermodel Gabrielle Solis in the drama, and her character was involved in several shocking storylines, including the statutory rape of her 17-year-old gardener John Rowland (played by Jesse Metcalfe). 'I don't know if we could do the show today,' she told Entertainment Tonight. 'I think we'd get cancelled. Advertisement 'The whole joke of my character was that Eva was this thin, beautiful model and her daughter turned out to be quite the opposite. 'And so, I think she [Longoria] was very aware that this was going to affect me,' she added. Writers 'barred from set' In 2023, Patty Lin also revealed that she couldn't be on set as a writer. 'Every scene was written hastily by a different person,' Lin claimed. 'Marc would barely be involved in the first few drafts, but once the script was in semi-decent shape, he'd take it from us, climb into a golf cart, and drive off to his writing bungalow to do a pass.' She went on to say that keeping him in solitary was the 'only way to get this goose to lay any eggs' because he was so 'easily distracted'. 'When they managed to wrench the scripts from his hands, it would get turned over to production, usually just before the table read and sometimes just before the first day of shooting,' she continued. 'With this wildly inefficient system, it's a miracle that any episodes of Desperate Housewives ever got made.' Lin believed that the dark humour that initially drew her to Desperate Housewives was 'lost in the slap-dash assembly line approach' to what was supposed to be a 'creative process'. 'The fact that it became the hottest show on TV, won multiple awards, ran for eight years, and earned more revenue than God, boggles my mind.' During its run, Desperate Housewives won multiple Primetime Emmy, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and its first five seasons were rated amongst the top 10 most-watched series. Young stars struggles with sobriety Amid the drama of the housewives, many of the younger cast also face battles. Jesse Metcalfe, who played teenage gardener John, struggled with sobriety after leaving the show. He entered rehab in 2007 for alcohol troubles, which he claimed were fuelled by Hollywood's world of 'instant gratification and decadence'. Meanwhile, Shawn Pyfrom played Andrew Van de Kamp, revealed he dealt with a long-term battle with addiction after Philip Seymour Hoffman's death. Share or comment on this article: Desperate Housewives had even more drama off-screen! As Wisteria Lane is revamped, how stars fought fall-outs, court cases and scandals Add comment