‘Virgin River’ Gets Early Season 7 Renewal To Become Netflix’s Longest-Running Drama Series
As they are preparing for a wedding, Virgin River fans will also get a honeymoon. Ahead of the December 19 release of Season 6, which culminates with the long-awaited Jack & Mel nuptials, Netflix has renewed the popular romantic drama for a seventh season. Like Season 6 (as well as Seasons 1-3), it will consist of 10 episodes.
With the early renewal, Virgin River becomes Netflix’s longest-running current original scripted series as well as the longest-running English-language drama series in the streamer’s history. Its seven-season run to date matches that of comedy Grace and Frankie and comedy-drama Orange Is the New Black, which was designated as a comedy for its first couple of seasons before switching to drama consideration. Virgin River has now eclipsed such Netflix staples as House of Cards and The Crown, which ran for six seasons each, with only the Spanish teen drama Elite ahead of it in number of seasons (eight) but not episodes (64 vs 74 for Virgin River through seven seasons).
The longevity of Virgin River is not surprising. An adaptation of Robyn Carr’s novels, the series has a sustainable premise, revolving around a group of characters living in a small town. It has an appealing cast, led by Alexandra Breckenridge (Mel) and Martin Henderson (Jack) and anchored by veterans Tim Matheson and Annette O’Toole. It has appealing economics, too.
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At a time when streamers are looking to keep budgets under control, Virgin River has a very reasonable price tag — it films in Canada, the bulk of the action takes place inside a bar, a small clinic and a couple of houses, and there are virtually no stunts or special effects involved (save for a wildfire storyline last season).
Meanwhile, Virgin River remains popular, with the first five seasons making Netflix’s Global Top 10 English series list 25 times since the list’s 2021 launch and Season 5 ranking in the Top 10 in 77 countries. Since the streamer makes its renewal decisions based on viewership vs. cost, it is clear why it keeps ordering more Virgin River. (An early renewal would make for a shorter gap between seasons, potentially keeping the romantic drama a holiday fixture after December releases for the Season 5 finale special and Season 6.)
Ahead of Season 5, Netflix Head of Drama Jinny Howe spoke of the “understanding that this is a really rich universe of characters and that people can’t seem to get enough, myself included,” adding that, “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.“
Creating a Virgin River universe by expanding the world through offshoots has been a priority for Netflix. The streamer is taking a first crack at that in Season 6, which introduces Mel’s parents and their 1970s love story with the idea of potentially spinning that off into a prequel series.
During its run so far, Virgin River underwent a slight creative shift with a showrunner change after Season 4. Patrick Sean Smith, who took the helm from series developer Sue Tenney, will return as showrunner and executive producer in Season 7. Also returning as executive producers are Tenney, Amy Palmer Robertson, Roma Roth, Christopher E. Perry, Carr, Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith, joined by new EP Jennifer Monroe. Co-executive producers include Ian Hay, Thomas Ian Griffith, Mary Page Keller and Jackson Sinder.
Virgin River started with nurse practitioner Melinda “Mel” Monroe’s moving to the remote California town of Virgin River looking for a fresh start. There, she found a community — and love with local bar owner Jack Sheridan. Season 6 is set against the backdrop of Mel and Jack’s romantic spring wedding season, chronicling the preparations — and the big day — alongside new twists, fresh drama and more love triangles.
In addition to Breckenridge, Henderson, Matheson and O’Toole, Season 6 series regulars include Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Kai Bradbury, Kandyse McClure and Mark Ghanime.
Here’s a video of the cast (sans O’Toole) announcing the Season 7 renewal as they also tease an “epic” Season 6:
