Virgin River prequel in the works as season 6 gets exciting update

Virgin River season six is officially underway again, with leading stars Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson returning to set to begin filming.

The Mel and Jack actors posed alongside a clapperboard in an image shared on the show’s official Instagram account, with the caption: “It’s official! Virgin River season 6 is back in production!”. Filming on the upcoming series was delayed in 2023 due to the actors and writers’ strikes

It’s one of two exciting show updates for fans, with Deadline reporting a Virgin River spin-off in the works.
The prequel will delve into Mel’s (Breckenridge) late mother Sarah’s own epic romance that led her to finding love with Mel’s biological father – finally unveiled as Everett Reid (John Allen Nelson) in the show’s recent Christmas specials.

Sarah’s story will be set in a similar quaint town setting somewhere in Northern California and will see the two’s relationship explored through flashbacks of a younger Everett and Sarah.

According to the publication, the potential prequel is currently in development and bosses are currently looking to cast their two protagonists. However, Netflix have yet to confirm if a spin-off is underway.
Meanwhile, Virgin River season six filming sees the cast return to Vancouver.

While no official release date has been shared, it’s thought the next series could arrive on Netflix sometime in 2025.

Details on season six remain limited but showrunner Patrick Sean Smith did confirm that fans can look forward to 10 episodes and a narrative “time jump from the holidays”.

In the same Q&A, Smith also teased audiences will learn more about Mel’s father Everett in the next Virgin River outing, both his relationship with Mel and the eponymous town.

“What we’re exploring more in Season 6 is who Everett Reid is, what his backstory is, what his connection to Virgin River was when he met her mom and then also what it is today,” he said.