Between a cast exit, love triangle complications and several open-ended story lines, Virgin River has a lot of questions that need answering in season 7 — but is every cast member returning for more episodes?
Virgin River, which premiered in 2019, is based on Robyn Carr’s book series and follows the lives of residents living in a small town in Northern California, including Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and her love interest, Jack (Martin Henderson). The series also stars Colin Lawrence, Annette O’Toole, Tim Matheson, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Sarah Dugdale, Zibby Allen, Marco Grazzini, Mark Ghanimé and Kai Bradbury.
After many ups and downs — including a miscarriage in season 5 — Jack and Mel finally ended season 6 as husband and wife. Despite their past obstacles, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith exclusively told Us Weekly why fans shouldn’t be worried about the fan-favorite couple’s next chapter.
“We will continue to see Mel and Jack move down their path towards parenthood,” Smith explained to Us in December 2024. “We get to live in the newlywed bliss that they have and the challenges that come with that as a new married couple.”
He added: “I think that with the pace at which we’re moving comfortably gives us a lot of opportunity to just keep telling more and more stories for as many seasons to come as possible.”
Elsewhere in the finale, exes Brie (Allen) and Brady (Hollingsworth) slept together. They didn’t get their happily ever after — yet — because after Brie told her boyfriend, Mike (Grazzini), about her affair with Brady, he chose to propose to her.
Keep scrolling to see which Virgin River characters are coming back for season 7 — and which aren’t — when the show returns March 12, 2026:
Alexandra Breckenridge
Ahead of season 7, Breckenridge teased where she wants to see Mel’s story go — especially with her newly-discovered father.
“I’m very curious to see where that goes,” she shared with Us in December 2024. “I love how Mel tries to open up her relationship with her father, and he keeps trying to push her away because I think he doesn’t want to experience the loss again. You know, a lot of times people who lose people, they’re scared to love anyone again, because they’re scared, they’re gonna go through that pain. But you can’t live without it, you know? It’s not a life if you don’t love again.”
Martin Henderson
“Jack’s still kind of holding out for this family that he wants and is quite anxious and eager to know where that is gonna lead,” Henderson exclusively told Us about possible season 7 story lines, to which Breckenridge added, “She’s just, like, in full shock. I mean, she just got married. This is literally the morning after she wakes up, and she’s in shock. And then there’s, like, that hope that sort of starts to creep in. We’ll see.”
Colin Lawrence
Lawrence is expected to reprise his role as Preacher to see where his story with Kaia (McClure) will go.
Jenny Cooper
As the show continues to dig into Mel’s family, her older sister will play an important role.
Lauren Hammersley
Questions arose about Charmaine after her home was found ransacked in the season 6 finale. Hammersley proved that she didn’t have any answers about what’s to come after sharing a text exchange with the Virgin River showrunner.
“Am I dead?” she wrote in the screen grabs shared via Instagram in February 2025. “It’s OK if I’m dead I just need to know if I should start putting resumes out at Wendy’s or something.”
Hammersley suggested a creative way for her character to go out, adding, “So … IF Charmaine dies this year, could you please drown her in the river? I think that would be EPIC.”
Annette O’Toole
Season 7 will explore Hope’s relationship with Doc (Matheson) further.
Tim Matheson
Speaking of Doc, his medical practice was put in jeopardy in season 6, so many of Us want to see how that will play out.
Ben Hollingsworth
Brady’s future with Brie is up in the air despite them finally hooking up.
“I’m a practical person. I see and love all the story potential in their chemistry, and in what Zibby and Ben bring every time they get in front of the camera,” Smith told Us. “I remember at the table read, our network exec who I love, she texted me or emailed me after and she was like, ‘Oh my God, that scene!’ It was special.”
Grayson Gurnsey
With Gurnsey going from recurring to guest status, it isn’t clear in what capacity Ricky is returning to the show.
Sarah Dugdale
Lizzie is expected to return in season 7.
Zibby Allen
According to Smith, Brie’s love triangle with Brady and Mike will continue to be explored in season 7.
“A good love triangle is only as strong as the options you’re presenting, and also looking at the influence that [Brie’s] choice would have on her life,” Smith teased. “So imagining what her future could look like with Brady compared to what it could look like with Mike. And I think that’s where it works really well.”
Marco Grazzini
Mike’s unclear future with Brie amid her romance with Brady keeps him in the loop for season 7.
Mark Ghanimé
After the sixth season premiered in December 2024, showrunner Smith was asked about Ghanimé’s future on the show as Cameron, to which he exclusively told Us, “I love that relationship, and, I think this season saw a little bit of a sendoff for Cameron. In terms of Mark, the actor who I adore, he unfortunately won’t be coming back for season 7.”
Smith didn’t rule out a potential return in the future. “But that’s not to say that Cameron’s not a part of our world forever,” he added. “I would love to bring him back, and bring his character back when the story presents itself.”
Kai Bradbury
Doc’s grandson Denny will likely appear in Virgin River.
Kandyse McClure
The same goes for Kaia as McClure returns in season 7.
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