Is the honeymoon period already over for newlyweds Mel and Jack on Virgin River?
Last we saw the Netflix drama, Mel and Jack had gotten hitched, and then in the final moments of the Season 6 finale, mom-to-be Marley approached Mel and offered up her soon-to-arrive baby! Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Tudum that “we’ve only just begun to see Mel and Jack function as a married couple, which is exciting.” Season 7 will “explore the honeymoon phase for them as they’re building their lives on the farm, which can come with its own obstacles,” he added.
Now comes news that a handsome addition is making his way to Virgin River, with One Tree Hill vet Austin Nichols joining the cast for Season 7, our sister site TVLine reports. The actor teased his arrival in an Instagram video, sharing, “Hey guys, I just landed in Virgin– I mean, Vancouver. I’m starting a new job, and I can’t wait for you guys to see it.”
No details are currently available about Nichols’ role or what his presence will mean for the rest of the characters, but what would a TV show be without conflict? (Not very interesting!) As previously announced, Nichols won’t be the only new cast member next season: Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) and Cody Kearsley (Riverdale) have joined the series in recurring roles, Deadline reported. Canning will play Victoria, an ex-cop who now works for the state medical board and comes to Virgin River to investigate Doc’s practice. In the process, she “runs into a friend whom she wouldn’t mind catching up with…or maybe more.” Kearsley will portray Clay, who’s looking for his younger sister with whom he grew up in the foster care system.
Meanwhile, Mark Ghanime, who played Dr. Cameron Hayek since Season 4, won’t be returning to the show full-time. “I love Mark, who plays Cameron, and I love the character of Cameron,” Smith told TVLine in December 2024. “He will always be a part of the world, and I would love to see his character back, but he won’t be a series regular in Season 7, unfortunately.” Additionally, Smith confirmed to TV Insider that there are “no plans” to see Lexa Doig’s Paige again, with her and Preacher’s relationship officially over.
