Virgin River Season 6: Renewal status, release date estimate, cast, synopsis and everything we know so far

Virgin River Season 6: Renewal status, release date window, cast, synopsis and everything we know so far
Credits: Variety

Premiered for the first time on Netflix in December 2019, Virgin River has garnered exponential fame and a fan base that remains unparalleled even today. Featuring A-list stars such as Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Colin Lawrence, and Jenny Cooper, the season four finale has left the fans of the show wanting for more.

If you’re well-versed in the show, then you’ll know that Virgin River is arrayed with a litany of interesting events that satiates our guilty pleasures, but it has also left some of the ends loose at the same time. For instance, who shot Jack in the back in season 2?

But season 2 is now a thing of the past. Let’s talk about something more recent. Something like Virgin River season 5. Dropping on Netflix on September 7, 2023, the latest season of this feel-good drama has spiked a lot of anticipation and a slew of burning questions in the minds of the fans, who ardently showcase their allegiance to the show, especially after the series of cliffhangers and revelations that have left their minds boggled.

But even more mind-boggling is the question: Will there be Virgin River season 6?

Let’s talk about it.

Virgin River: Season 4 | Official Trailer | Netflix

Has Netflix renewed Virgin River for season 6?

On May 17th, as a part of the official streamer’s upfront presentation, Netflix announced that Virgin River has been renewed for season 6.

Initially, the show was renewed till season 5, but we are grateful for the creators and showrunners of the series who have revisited their decision. However, the early season renewal is not surprising, given the ratings and popularity the show received.

Previously, in an interview with Deadline, Netflix’s head of drama, Howe disclosed that there would be “more longevity and growth with the show”, saying,

“As long as the audience asks for it and shows up — and I think we see with Season 4 that the fandom is very strong and growing in many places as well — it feels like based on what we’re seeing with Season 4 and the anticipation for Season 5 that there is a lot more storytelling to offer us. It will be exciting to see which characters continue to break out and audiences crave more of; we’re paying very close attention, understanding that this is a really rich universe of characters and that people can’t seem to get enough, myself included. So I think as long as that continues to be the case — which we’re very hopeful for — you can rest assured that there will be more Virgin River.”

Actress Alexandra Breckenridge, who stars as Mel in the series, disclosed that she’s hoping for another season of Virgin River in a recent Cameo video. She said:

“The fifth season … that will come out probably, I don’t know, maybe July again? I’m not really sure, nobody’s updated me. Fingers crossed for Season 6.”

What is the production status of Virgin River season 6?

Virgin River Season 5: Has the release date for the upcoming season changed?

Unfortunately, the sixth season of Virgin River has not kickstarted its production process. Since season 5 immediately started filming after season 4 was released, we expect a similar production schedule to be followed for the sixth season. This suggests that the filming process might kickstart in the fall of 2023.

However, this can only materialize into reality if the writers’ strike ceases to continue. If the writers had already started working on the season before the strike, we could expect the season to release sometime in early 2024. Be that as it may, the WGA strike will continue until the agreement is met. That being said, if Virgin River season 6 starts filming in the fall or winter of 2023, we can expect it to hit the Netflix library in mid to late 2024.

What can we expect to happen in Virgin River season 6?

Virgin River Season 5: Has the release date for the upcoming season changed?

It’s too early to predict the plot arcs for season 6, but we do ascertain that the renewed season will pick up from where its predecessors left off. Towards the end of Virgin River season 4, the viewers see Charmaine suffering in chronic pain and is afraid of losing her twins. In a shocking turn of events, she is compelled to confess to Jack and Mel that the two boys aren’t actually his. We contend that this will be one of the major determining story arcs of the fifth season, which could be later explored in the sixth installment.

Not only that, but the upcoming installments of the series will also underscore the relationship of the most beloved couple of the show, Mel and Jack, as they encircle the tangents of family, the arrival of a new baby girl and so much more.

In conversation with New Beauty, Alexandra Breckenridge teased some of the plot points regarding the future seasons of the show:

“I think this season has started out well and we’re getting into a few episodes soon that are pretty heavy. They’re really intense and I think that they’re some of the best episodes we’ve ever done. I never say that either! I think that there’s a high sense of drama that starts to come up this season that it’s going to leave people on the edge of their seats. At least, I hope. I’m excited to get into that.”

In the fifth season, we expect Virgin River’s mayor Hope to continue recovering with Lizzie’s help and jump back to her mayoral duties. In season four, Brie revealed her rape to Brady and firmly decided to report her sexual assault and take her former boyfriend-rapist Don to court. Taking this story arc further, we expect the fifth and the sixth seasons to cover Brie’s trial following her revelation of the assault and the emotional repercussions of the same.

Virgin River Season 5: Has the release date for the upcoming season changed?

On a more romantic front, we’re afraid that we might be bidding adieu to Paige once and for all, as the previous instalment left Preacher and her in a cabin with Vince unconscious. There’s a new love interest for Preacher, Julia, who was introduced to us in the fourth season. Is there room for a love triangle in the upcoming installments of Virgin River?

In an interview with Deadline, Netflix’s head of drama, Jinny Howe hinted at the change that season 5 is going to bring, saying:

“I think what’s going to be interesting is to see this universe continue to grow and expand and to see new characters, other characters return. A lot of that was set up in the Season 4 finale but it’s going to be really exciting to see all of that come to a head in Season 5. And some of the soap that’s going to come out of these new complex tensions and triangles.”

Not only that, but in an interview with Glamour, Breckenridge disclosed that the arrival of a new showrunner, writers, and directors would certainly herald more LGBTQ+ stories in order to induce more inclusivity in the show.

How many episodes will be there in Virgin River season 6?

Virgin River Season 5: Has the release date for the upcoming season changed?

At the time of writing this article, the creators of the show have not revealed the official episode count of the season. However, we do assume that season 6 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors, featuring an expanded 12-episode order. If the writers’ strike impacts future episodes and the production process, we might not even get this expanded episode order. Thus, at the moment we predict 10 or 12 episodes for season 6. 

Additionally, we also expect Patrick Sean Smith to serve as the showrunner for the sixth instalment, who replaced Sue Tenny for the fifth season. 

Who are the expected cast members of Virgin River season 5?

We expect the following cast members to be featured in Virgin River season 6. This assumption traces back to an Instagram post involving a Zoom call of a table read for season 5. This call included the following list of cast members, so we assume that they will also be a part of the sixth season of Virgin River and will reprise their respective roles:

  • Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe
  • Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
  • Annette O’Toole as Hope McCrea
  • Tim Matheson as Dr Vernon Mullins
  • Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dan Brady
  • Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan
  • Gwynyth Walsh as Jo Ellen
  • Colin Lawrence as John ‘Preacher’ Middleton
  • Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie
  • Jenny Cooper as Joey Barnes
  • Nicola Cavendish as Connie
  • Chase Petriw as Christopher
  • Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler
  • Mark Ghanime as Dr Cameron Hayek
  • Marco Grazzini as Mike Valenzuela
  • Teryl Rothery as Muriel
  • Steve Bacic as Vince
  • Christina Jastrzembska as Lydie
  • Trevor Lerner as Bert Gordon
  • Lucia Walters as Julia
  • Keith MacKechnie as Nick
  • Emma Oliver as Young Mel

In addition to the above-mentioned list of cast members,  we also expect the three new faces who were confirmed to be joining the cast of Virgin River season 5 in November 2022, to reprise their roles for season 6:

  • Susan Hogan
  • Elise Gatien
  • Paolo Maiolo

 

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Apart from these core cast members, the following list includes all the recurring or minor roles:

  • David Stuart as Reporter Ted Ford
  • Audré Alleya Stephenson
  • Melanie Merkosky
  • Brent Fidler
  • Serge Houde
  • Helenna Santos
  • Gabrielle Jacinto

When will Virgin River season 5 premiere on Netflix?

Virgin River Season 5: Has the release date for the upcoming season changed?
Credit: Netflix

Netflix has finally disclosed the release date for Virgin River season 5. Prepare yourself for some drama because this feel-good series is all set to arrive on Netflix on *drum rolls please* on September 7th, 2023.

Although the streaming giant revealed the release date of the show quite recently, we were aware of the show releasing near the third quarter of 2023 for quite a while, owing to the secrets revealed by the stars of the show. In a video shared on Twitter by user VirginRiverPassionate, Martin Henderson who plays the dashing Jack Sheridan shared an interesting release date update about the latest season. He said, “Season 5 coming out, I think, probably in July. So, not long now, a few months, in another instalment of hot, steamy gossip and intrigue on the river.”

In addition to this, Alexandra Breckenridge who plays the beautiful Mel Monroe also corroborated Henderson’s summer release date claim in a video shared by her. If the stars of the show are right about this, then we are actually nearing the release date of Virgin River season 5. You better start marking your calendars from now on!

Well, July is not that far from September!

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