Netflix confirm release date for ‘Virgin River’ season six
On October 17th, Netflix made an announcement that had romance fans everywhere swooning as it was revealed that Virgin River is returning for its sixth season. Fans of the show can now add December 19th to their diary, as that is when the new season will bow – just in time for Christmas.
The streaming giant also released a short teaser trailer for the latest batch of episodes and a gallery of first-look photos spotlighting Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge), Jack (Martin Henderson), and their small-town friends.
According to showrunner Patrick Sean Smith, the new season will follow the lead-up to Mel and Jack’s wedding. Naturally, the course of true love won’t always run smoothly, and the couple will have to deal with several crises that may threaten to derail their big day.
Smith told Tudum, “We’re trying to hit all the milestones of the pre-wedding planning, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner.” He added, “Mel and Jack will advance on their path to parenthood while also turning Lilly’s (Lynda Boyd) farm into their ultimate dream home.”
The Greek creator, who took over as showrunner in season five after Sue Tenney stepped away from the role, said, “I’m so proud of how it turned out. It felt very Virgin River in its production — the ambition of it, and that we’re a small group of people that care about something so much: the fans. So we just busted our humps to get it done.”
As with every season of the show, there are some new additions to the cast. Jessica Rothe, of Happy Death Day fame, and Callum Kerr have been added to the ensemble in a series of flashbacks playing Sarah and Everett – Mel’s parents – in 1972. These flashbacks will then lead into a spinoff show, the development of which was announced in February.
Smith relished exploring a new romance in the show, even one set in the past. He revealed, “Getting to look at a different romantic relationship but still in the world of Virgin River is exciting. I think with Mel and Jack, they’ve gone through so much, and to get to see another couple in the same universe dealing with the ups and downs of a love story just feels like a fresh opportunity.”
The showrunner also teased that there will be some “new directions” for a few of the show’s most popular characters, such as Colin Lawrence’s Preacher, Benjamin Hollingsworth’s Brady, and Kandyse McClure’s Kaia.
He explained, “Brady will be volunteering at the Virgin River fire station under Fire Chief Kaia, who is pulled into Preacher’s past sins. Also this season we’ll be surprised by some returning favourites from the past.”