The Netflix series' showrunner confirmed that two major characters won't return
Credit: Courtesy of Netflix
NEED TO KNOW
- Marco Grazzini and Lauren Hammersley will not return for Virgin River season 8
- Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith said cast changes aim to keep the series fresh and maintain compelling storylines
- Season 7 introduced new characters played by Sara Canning, Cody Kearsley and Austin Nichols to expand the show’s world
The Virgin River cast is getting a shake-up following the release of season 7 of the Netflix original series.
On Wednesday, March 12, the same day that Netflix debuted the series' latest 10-episode installment, Entertainment Weekly and Deadline reported that Marco Grazzini and Lauren Hammersley would be departing for season 8.
Grazzini played a significant role as Mike, a police officer who helps Brie (Zibby Allen) locate the missing Charmaine (Hammersley). Grazzini first appeared in the show during season 3, as Mike formed a romantic bond with Allen's character.
"He’s not coming back for season 8," Virgin River showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Deadline of Grazzini, 45.
Hammersley's character Charmaine joined the cast in 2019, and was listed as a main cast member until season 4, as well as a recurring cast member from seasons 5 to 7.
Credit: Courtesy Of Netflix
Smith added to Deadline that both characters could return in subsequent seasons.
"For me, I’m just trying to look to the longevity of the show and making sure that the characters that we’re keeping have enough story engine in them to keep going," the showrunner said. "So I can't say there are any specific cast shakeups planned, but I think we will have to start to — as characters run their course — make some decisions and bring in some new blood."
This isn't the first cast shakeup in the show's history. Several new characters were added for season 7, including Sara Canning as former cop Victoria, who now works as an investigator for the state's medical board and runs into an old friend while in the town of Virgin River, and Riverdale alum Cody Kearsley as Clay, who is searching for his sister after they were separated while in foster care.
One Tree Hill alum Austin Nichols also joined for season 7.
Credit: Courtesy of Netflix
There have also been a number of series exits over the years, including Grayson Gurnsey, who played Ricky, leaving after season 4 and Mark Ghanimé's Dr. Cameron departure after season 6.
Based on Robyn Carr’s novel series by the same name, Virgin River follows Mel, a young nurse practitioner who leaves Los Angeles for a simpler life in Northern California, only to find that small-town dynamics are more complicated than they seem.
Showrunner Smith previously gave Tudum a peek into Virgin River's seventh season ahead of its release, saying that Mel and Jack will "explore the honeymoon phase" following their wedding at the end of season 6 "as they're building their lives on the farm, which can come with its own obstacles."
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Smith added that because he “can’t imagine creating a scenario where you think Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) are going to break up,” the show will have to dig deeper into other potential relationship issues.
“I think Alex and Martin play all of those [moments so well], it’s just resting on emotional stakes as opposed to will they, won’t they,” he said.
Virgin River season 7 is streaming on Netflix now.
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