Jessica Rothe & Callum Kerr have been cast to play Sarah and Everett in the upcoming season 6.

Virgin River is set to return for its 6th season before the end of 2024. The upcoming season will include flashbacks featuring Mel’s mother and biological father, Sarah and Everett.

The new recurring characters played by  Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day, All My Life) and Callum Kerr will be introduced as Netflix plans to expand the Virgin River universe with a prequel spin-off that will follow Sarah and Everett’s origin story.

Seen in flashbacks mostly set in or around 1972, Sarah (Rothe) is a witty, free spirit from the big city with an ardent passion for activism, and trying to avoid the conventional/traditional life of a young woman in the ’70s. Always up for an adventure, she can’t help chasing an instant spark with a handsome musician, Everett (Kerr), that might just be her star-crossed soulmate.

Everett (Kerr) is a singer-songwriter with a poet’s soul. One day he’ll pursue his dreams of the stage, but for now, he’s skimming through life in a VW Van, until a chance meeting with a beautiful hitchhiker, Sarah (Rothe), may just show him there’s more to life than he ever thought possible.

What we know from Season 5

In season 5 of Virgin River, viewers learned that after losing their second-born daughter, Chloe, Sarah and her husband grew apart due to their grief. Sarah meets Everett, most likely in Virgin River, and they fall in love. They maintain a loving correspondence until Sarah discovers she’s pregnant with Mel. She informs Everett, who wishes to be a part of his daughter’s life. However, Sarah chooses to keep her family together and never contacts Everett again. In season 5, it’s revealed that the letters were written 37 years ago, and thanks to some flashbacks, it is suggested that there is a significant age gap of about 6 years between Mel and Joey.

The passing of time, the continuity and consistency of the storylines in Virgin River have been always complicated but the story seems already stretched a little too much before even starting, especially considering the writing team from season 5 is the same who wrote season 6 and likely the one who will be behind the potential pilot.  

Based on current implications, it’s likely that Sarah met Everett in the early 70s, and then left him to marry Joey’s father. After Chloe’s passing, she rekindled her romance with Everett.

Even though Patrick Sean Smith has announced the project of the Everett and Sarah spinoff, the pilot has not been greenlit or filmed yet. The flashbacks of Sarah and Everett will take place in the second episode of season 6.

It is safe to assume that Netflix will evaluate the viewers’ response before making any decisions about the spinoff.

Season 6 logline

Against the backdrop of Mel and Jack’s romantic spring wedding season, this sixth installment promises fresh twists and turns, escalating love triangles, delightful wedding drama, as well as uncovered secrets from Mel’s father’s past which will transport us to the magic and mystique of Virgin River in the 1970s.

The episode titles for season 6 have been exclusively announced by What’s On Netflix.

The episodes are listed in alphabetical order

• Brothers & Sisters
• Ghosts
• Going Overboard
• Hope Springs Eternal
• I Climbed a Mountain and I Turned Around
• Love Story
• Prelude to a Kiss
• The Big Day
• The Broken Places
• The Jury’s Out

Read What The New Episode Titles Tell Us About ‘Virgin River’ Season 6 on What’s On Netflix’s website.

What We Can Expect From Season 6?

More Mel and Jack

Ildiko Susany confirmed in our interview that the next season will focus more on their leads Mel and Jack.

“I’m not sure how much I can give away for season six, but I will say we are very excited to focus on Mel and Jack, but we will still have everyone’s stories as well. We are definitely thrilled about Mel and Jack’s journey in season 6.”

Ildiko Susany

During their Instagram live, Henderson and Breckenridge revealed that they had a conversation with the showrunner Patrick Sean Smith regarding season 6. Breckenridge mentioned that she felt some changes had been made and that they would have more work to do. Henderson confirmed that this was also his understanding from his last conversation with Smith.

Fans and viewers had given negative feedback about Henderson and Breckenridge not having enough screen time in season 5 part 1 compared to previous seasons. It is likely that the writers went back and made some changes and adjustments to the storyline to address this issue after the writer’s strike ended.

Executive producer Patrick Sean Smith confirmed a prominent storyline for Mel and Jack in season 6 in numerous interviews promoting season 5 part 2.

The Wedding of the Season

Breckenridge informed her fans that Netflix requested the cast not to share any behind-the-scenes content for this season. However, information about the series still got out, thanks to some dedicated fan accounts. In fact, Season 6 will finally feature the long-awaited wedding between Mel and Jack in the last block directed by the veteran Monika Mitchell.

The wedding could take place at the couple’s new property, a new house and barn built within the Martini Film Studios in Langley. Martini Acres offers over 150 acres of forest and farm land and is located just 10 minutes from the Studios. Martini Film Studios has collaborated with Netflix on multiple projects.

Leaked photos show Jack will be married in his Marine uniform.

More Romance

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Smith also confirmed a lighter season 6 and more romance throughout the series. Another crucial aspect of the series that viewers complained it was lacking from both parts one and two of season 5.

“I think my intention was never to have subsequent seasons match the intensity of season five. I would say that going into season six, my intention is to have it feel lighter, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be complicated with the signature Virgin River twists and turns. And I think leaning more into the romance of the series is something that we’re excited to do as well, and just keep giving the fans what they want.”

Patrick Sean Smith