Netflix’s beloved romantic drama Virgin River has officially wrapped filming for its seventh season, with cast members bidding a heartfelt farewell to the set in Vancouver, Canada, on June 20, 2025. The series, based on Robyn Carr’s sprawling novel series, continues to captivate audiences with its blend of small-town charm, heartfelt romance, and jaw-dropping cliffhangers. As fans eagerly await the late 2025 or early 2026 premiere, a bombshell accidentally dropped by the cast during wrap celebrations has set the internet ablaze: a shocking pregnancy twist is set to shake up the quaint town of Virgin River. With the tagline “He’s Back and It’s Wild!” hinting at a mysterious return, Season 7 promises to deliver the emotional rollercoaster fans crave.
A Wedding and a Cliffhanger
Season 6, which premiered on December 19, 2024, culminated in the long-awaited wedding of Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a milestone that marked the pinnacle of their tumultuous love story. Set against the backdrop of a romantic spring wedding, the season explored their transition into married life on their farm, complete with new challenges. However, the finale left viewers reeling with a chilling cliffhanger: Jack discovered Charmaine’s (Lauren Hammersley) home ransacked, with no sign of her or her twins, and a shocking discovery in the nursery that remains undisclosed. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith has teased that this mystery, possibly tied to the return of the dangerous Calvin (David Cubitt), will be a central focus of Season 7.
The cast’s emotional Instagram posts, including selfies from Benjamin Hollingsworth (Brady), Zibby Allen (Brie), and Annette O’Toole (Hope), confirmed the wrap of filming, with Hollingsworth noting it was the “last day of filming Season 7 of Virgin River.” During these farewells, an accidental slip by an unnamed cast member revealed a major plot point: a surprising pregnancy twist that will upend expectations. While details remain scarce, speculation points to Mel and Jack’s adoption journey with Marley Thirston, a pregnant patient who offered her baby to them in the Season 6 finale after her original adoption plans fell through. Could this be the pregnancy twist, or is there another surprise in store?
New Faces and Departures
Season 7 introduces fresh characters to stir the pot. Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) joins as Victoria, an ex-cop turned state medical board investigator probing Doc Mullins’ (Tim Matheson) practice, potentially unearthing secrets from his past. Cody Kearsley (Riverdale) plays Clay, a man searching for his sister from their foster care days, adding another layer of intrigue. Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill) also joins in a yet-to-be-revealed role, with his Instagram tease suggesting he’ll bring trouble to Mel and Jack’s idyllic life. Meanwhile, notable exits include Lexa Doig (Paige Lassiter) and Mark Ghanimé (Dr. Cameron Hayek), though showrunner Smith hasn’t ruled out future guest appearances for Cameron.
The return of a mysterious “he” has fans buzzing. While the tagline suggests a significant male character’s comeback, possibilities include Ricky (Grayson Gurnsey), whose military deployment left his story open-ended, or Everett Reed (John Allen Nelson), Mel’s father, whose past with Hope will be explored further. Smith has confirmed that Hope’s ex-husband Roland will also return, tying into a prequel storyline delving into her history, which could complicate her and Doc’s efforts to save their clinic from a corporate takeover.
Key Storylines to Watch
Season 7, comprising 10 episodes, picks up just two hours after the Season 6 finale, ensuring no major time jump. The fate of Charmaine and her twins remains a pressing mystery, with fan theories suggesting Calvin’s involvement in a potential kidnapping plot. Mel and Jack’s adoption journey with Marley’s baby will explore the emotional and legal complexities of parenthood, especially after Mel’s heartbreaking miscarriage in Season 5. The clinic’s future hangs in the balance as Doc faces a medical board investigation and a corporate threat, with Hope leveraging her mayoral power to protect their legacy.
Elsewhere, romantic entanglements deepen. Brie’s love triangle with Brady and Mike (Marco Grazzini) intensifies after her confession of infidelity, with Mike’s surprising proposal adding complexity. Preacher (Colin Lawrence) navigates his relationship with Kaia (Kandyse McClure), who resists marriage post-divorce, while Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Denny (Kai Bradbury) welcome their baby girl, grappling with the specter of Denny’s Huntington’s disease. Brady’s arc takes a darker turn as he seeks answers after Lark (Elise Gatien) scams him, leaving his financial and emotional future uncertain.
A Netflix Powerhouse
Virgin River remains Netflix’s longest-running English-language scripted drama, with Season 8 already greenlit in July 2025, before Season 7’s premiere. Filming in Vancouver and British Columbia’s scenic locales, including Snug Cove and Shannon Falls, continues to bring the fictional Northern California town to life. The series’ consistent yearly releases, a rarity among streaming giants, underscore its popularity, with Season 6 garnering strong viewership despite mixed reviews (90% on Rotten Tomatoes for Season 2, 56% for Season 3). Fans on X are buzzing with anticipation, though some express frustration over cliffhangers and long waits, urging for resolutions to Charmaine’s fate and Mel’s family dreams.
As Virgin River Season 7 approaches, the pregnancy twist and mysterious return promise to keep viewers glued to their screens, proving once again that this small town is anything but sleepy.
