The latest season of Virgin River just dropped, and the show has already lost two longtime solid members.
Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed on Thursday, March 12, that Marco Grazzini is not going to be returning as Mike, telling Deadline, “He’s not coming back for season 8.” Lauren Hammersley, who has been playing Charmaine because the show premiered on Netflix, can be not expected to come back back — at the very least for now.
“For me, I’m just attempting to look to the longevity of the show and ensuring that the characters that we’re keeping have enough story engine in them to maintain going,” Smith noted. “So I can’t say there are any specific solid shakeups planned, but I believe we can have to start out to — as characters run their course — make some decisions and produce in some recent blood.”
Apart from Grazzini, 45, the remainder of Virgin River‘s season 7 series regulars are expected to return in season 8. Based on the book series written by Robyn Carr, Virgin River centers across the lives of residents living in a small town in Northern California, including Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and her love interest, Jack (Martin Henderson). The series also stars Colin Lawrence, Annette O’Toole, Tim Matheson, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Sarah Dugdale, Zibby Allen and Kai Bradbury.
This isn’t the primary time the show has passed through some changes behind the scenes. Grayson Gurnsey left as Ricky after season 4, and Mark Ghanimé, who played Cameron, had a surprising exit once season 6 was released.
“I believe this season saw just a little little bit of a sendoff for Cameron,” Smith exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2024. “When it comes to Mark, the actor who I like, he unfortunately won’t be coming back for season 7.”
Smith didn’t rule out a possible return in the longer term. “But that’s to not say that Cameron’s not a component of our world without end,” he added. “I’d like to bring him back, and produce his character back when the story presents itself.”
Grazzini, meanwhile, was involved in a love triangle on the show involving Brie (Allen) and Brady (Hollingsworth).
“A very good love triangle is just as strong as the choices you’re presenting, and likewise taking a look at the influence that [Brie’s] selection would have on her life,” Smith noted to Us. “So imagining what her future could appear like with Brady in comparison with what it could appear like with Mike. And I believe that’s where it really works very well.”
Netflix’s longest-running scripted series Virgin River has passed through some surprising solid changes — so who is predicted to look in season 7? Based on Robyn Carr’s book series, Virgin River follows the lives of residents living in a small town in Northern California, including Mel and Jack. The hit series, which premiered in 2019, […]
Before season 7 premiered on Thursday, Hollingsworth, 41, teased a possible end result to the love triangle.
“I personally don’t think that Brie’s heart is necessarily with Mike,” he hinted to Us in November 2025. “You’ll see each of them attempting to navigate what this recent normal looks like. Whether it involves Mike or not is de facto something that [you have to wait and see].”
Hollingsworth continued: “Brady just desires to be the perfect version of himself. A part of that’s trying to present Brie space to work out what she wants and let her come to him. I believe that’s very hard for Brady to do.”
Virgin River is currently streaming on Netflix.