Fans Devastated: Diesel La Torraca Won’t Return as Austin in Ginny & Georgia Season 4 – But a New Character Will Shake Things Up 👦🔄

Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia has kept fans hooked with its blend of family drama, secrets, and shocking twists since its 2021 debut. The Miller family—Georgia (Brianne Howey), Ginny (Antonia Gentry), and Austin (Diesel La Torraca)—has been at the heart of the series, navigating murder trials, toxic relationships, and moral dilemmas. However, recent speculation about Season 4, fueled by fan discussions on X and Reddit, suggests a bombshell: Diesel La Torraca may not return as Austin Miller due to his noticeable growth spurt, sparking devastation among fans. Adding fuel to the fire, creator Sarah Lampert has teased a new character who could shake up Wellsbury’s dynamics. While no official confirmation exists, here’s a 1000-word exploration of the recasting rumors, fan reactions, and what a new character might mean for Ginny & Georgia Season 4, based on available information and online buzz.

The Austin Recasting Rumor: Fact or Fiction?

Diesel La Torraca, now 14, has played 9-year-old Austin Miller since Ginny & Georgia premiered in 2021. His performance, marked by emotional depth in scenes like Austin shooting his abusive father, Gil (Aaron Ashmore), and framing him for murder, has made the character a fan favorite. However, Season 3, released June 5, 2025, highlighted a glaring issue: La Torraca’s growth spurt. Fans on X and Reddit, like @TVFanatic and u/NMRI_Scan, pointed out that La Torraca, now taller than Antonia Gentry (Ginny), struggles to convincingly portray a 9-year-old. Comments like “There’s no way he can believably play a 9-10 yo” flooded forums, with some joking about his “Harry Potter glasses” failing to hide his teenage appearance.

Despite fan concerns, creator Sarah Lampert has firmly dismissed recasting rumors. In a June 2025 Us Weekly interview, she stated, “We can’t recast. Diesel is Austin,” emphasizing that his growth is uncontrollable and asking fans to “suspend their disbelief”. Lampert plans to address the age gap with humor, noting, “There are a few jokes we’re planning to make. We’re aware that he’s growing up and that helps us”. She sees La Torraca’s maturity as a storytelling asset, allowing Austin to evolve from a tagalong child to a preteen with a stronger voice in Season 4. La Torraca himself told Teen Vogue, “I can try my best to look like a 9-year-old!” while acknowledging the challenge of playing younger, using techniques like slouching or raising his voice.

However, the lack of official confirmation doesn’t quell speculation. Some fans on Reddit argue that a time jump, confirmed by Lampert to start in Ginny’s junior year after her summer in South Korea, could necessitate a younger actor for flashbacks or a recast if Austin’s age advances significantly. Others believe CGI or “movie magic” could depict a younger Austin in key scenes. Despite these theories, Lampert’s commitment to La Torraca suggests he’ll likely return, though the show may lean into his real age, making Austin a preteen to align with his appearance.

Fan Reactions: Devastation and Debate

The idea of La Torraca not returning has sparked intense reactions. On X, posts like “Austin’s growth spurt is hilarious but recasting him would break my heart” reflect fans’ attachment to La Torraca’s nuanced portrayal. Reddit threads, such as u/NMRI_Scan’s post with 51 votes, debate solutions like time jumps or CGI, with some users arguing, “His face has clearly aged… it’s not just the height”. Fans appreciate La Torraca’s chemistry with Howey and Gentry, with one X user noting, “He’s the heart of the Miller family—recasting would ruin the vibe.” The emotional weight of Austin’s Season 3 arc—lying to save Georgia and grappling with trauma—has deepened this connection, making a potential recast feel like a betrayal to many.

Yet, some fans see a recast as inevitable. A viral X post quipped, “The Ginny & Georgia directors trying to hide that 9-year-old Austin is 6ft tall now by making him sit every scene” highlights the absurdity, suggesting practical challenges may force a change. La Torraca leaned into the humor, posting a TikTok captioned, “Me tryna convince ppl that Austin is still 9”. This divide—loyalty to La Torraca versus realism—fuels heated discussions, with fans torn between emotional attachment and narrative consistency.

A New Character to Shake Things Up

While the recasting rumor dominates, Lampert’s teases about a new character have ignited excitement. In a Deadline interview, she hinted at a “surprising kiss” between unexpected characters and the introduction of Georgia’s abusive mother or stepfather, who appeared briefly in Season 3’s finale. These figures, tied to the “Cycles and Origins” theme, could explore Georgia’s traumatic past, impacting her therapy journey and her children’s choices. Brianne Howey told Tudum, “It’s sobering” for Georgia to see Ginny and Austin mirror her manipulative tactics, suggesting the new character might amplify this conflict.

Fans speculate this character could be a relative, like Georgia’s mother, or a new love interest for Ginny, especially with Marcus (Felix Mallard) facing rehab. A Reddit thread posited a “new student” in Wellsbury, possibly tied to Ginny’s poetry class love interest, Wolfe (Ty Doran), or a rival for Georgia’s affections, complicating the Paul-Joe baby daddy drama. X posts, like @melty_fr’s, even suggest a crossover with XO, Kitty, introducing a Korean character post-Ginny’s South Korea trip, though this remains unconfirmed. Whoever this character is, Lampert’s promise of a “RIDE” on Instagram suggests they’ll disrupt the Miller family dynamic significantly.

Season 4’s Broader Context

Season 4, with production starting late 2025 in Toronto, is expected to premiere in late 2026 or early 2027, per Howey’s Collider comments. The time jump, covering Ginny’s summer, will address Austin’s age while advancing Georgia’s pregnancy and trial fallout. The main cast—Howey, Gentry, Mallard, Sara Waisglass (Max), Scott Porter (Paul), and Raymond Ablack (Joe)—is confirmed to return, with Austin’s arc expanding to explore his trauma, possibly through therapy, as teased by La Torraca to Teen Vogue. The season will delve into Ginny’s transformation into a “badass,” per Gentry, and Georgia’s attempt to break toxic cycles, setting the stage for a new character to challenge their growth.

Final Thoughts

Despite fan devastation over rumors of Diesel La Torraca’s exit, Sarah Lampert’s assurances confirm he’ll likely remain Austin, with Season 4 leaning into his teenage years through humor and a modest time jump. The introduction of a new character promises fresh drama, potentially tied to Georgia’s past or Ginny’s evolving identity, keeping Ginny & Georgia’s signature chaos alive. As fans await more details, the show’s ability to balance emotional stakes with soapy twists ensures Season 4 will be a wild ride. Catch up on Seasons 1–3 on Netflix while anticipating Wellsbury’s next chapter.