Netflix’s Virgin River just premiered for Season 7, and it is saying goodbye to several characters — including two longtime fan favorites — ahead of its eighth season. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed to Deadline that Marco Grazzini, who played police detective and Jack’s (Martin Henderson) fellow Marine Mike Valenzuela, will exit the series after five seasons. Grazzini appeared as a recurring character before becoming a series regular for the past four seasons.
Also departing is Lauren Hammersley, who portrayed Charmaine throughout all seven seasons of Virgin River. She was a series regular during the show’s first four seasons before moving into a recurring role.
Smith told Deadline that both characters could potentially return in future seasons.
Here’s more on Virgin River Season 8 — and who else is leaving the show.
Season 7 of the Netflix romance drama premiered on March 12
Virgin River returned for its seventh season on March 12, and the Netflix romance drama wastes no time plunging viewers back into the town’s signature drama. The season picks up exactly where the Season 6 finale left off — at Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack’s wedding and with Jack and Charmaine discovering that her twins have been taken from their home.
The season ultimately brings a happy ending for Mel and Jack, who adopt Marley’s (Rachel Drance) son after struggling with infertility. But in classic Virgin River fashion, their joy is short-lived when they learn the baby has a congenital heart defect and requires surgery. Mel, Jack and Marley travel to Los Angeles for the procedure, where they unexpectedly run into Eli (Austin Nichols), Mel’s ex, who is set to perform the operation.
Brie (Zibby Allen) and Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) also appear headed for a happy ending after finally finding common ground and reuniting. However, that peace is quickly disrupted by Brady’s accident in the finale.
Throughout the season, Doc (Tim Matheson) faces the possibility of losing his clinic amid an ongoing investigation. By the finale, he appears more open to working with Grace Valley Hospital in order to save it — a decision that could complicate his relationship with Hope (Annette O’Toole), who strongly opposes the hospital.
Preacher (Colin Lawrence) is also preparing for a new chapter in Season 8 after stepping away from the kitchen at Jack’s Bar to pursue his own venture. Meanwhile, things are smooth sailing for him and Kaia (Kandyse McClure) throughout Season 7.
Elsewhere, Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Denny (Kai Bradbury) struggle to adjust to parenthood after welcoming their baby early in the season, with Lizzie experiencing postpartum depression.
Calvin (Josh Blacker)’s death is revealed near the top of the Season 7 premiere. Charmaine’s disappearance and the search for Calvin’s killer become the central mysteries in Season 7. After Calvin’s death, Charmaine goes on the run and it is later revealed that Grant (Alessandro Juliani), the owner of the salon where she works, is the culprit. Grant killed Calvin after learning he had threatened to take Charmaine’s babies away from her and later held Charmaine hostage in his apartment until she is rescued by Brie and Mike.
Season 8 of the Netflix romance drama is expected to premiere in 2027.
Sara Canning and Rachel Drance are also leaving ‘Virgin River’
In addition to Grazzini and Hammersley, Sara Canning — who has played Victoria on Virgin River since Season 7 — is also departing, Deadline reported.
However, the future of Matty Finochio, who plays Hope’s temporary assistant Tony while Lizzie is on maternity leave, is less certain.
“Actually, I found out a few weeks ago that he has booked a series regular on another show, so he’s unavailable for the first part of our shoot, but I would love to have him back,” showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Deadline. “He was such a breath of fresh air and so funny and just a nice energy, especially up against Hope. I wouldn’t want to squander that and not revisit it again.”
Drance is also not expected to return for Season 8, as Smith revealed that Mel and Jack’s adoption storyline is “out for now.”
But Season 8 won’t see a full cast overhaul. Most of Virgin River’s Season 7 series regulars, aside from Grazzini, are expected to return, including Hollingsworth, despite Brady’s accident. Nichols is also expected to return.
“He also booked something else, so we’re working around his schedule. We have such talented cast members that everybody wants them,” Smith told Deadline.
As for Grazzini potentially returning in the future, Smith said that would depend on the story.
“We have so many relationships already that I think a little bit of that was just a sort of happy ending for this chapter for Mike to find his way back to Victoria and to explore what happens there,” he told the outlet. “But I love Marco and could see his character coming back in a more substantive role if the creative is right.”
The same could be true for Charmaine’s eventual return to Virgin River.
“No plans for Charmaine to be back in Season 8, but that’s not to say, when the right time comes, I’d love to bring the character back for something other than more cliffhangers and more lies on pregnancies,” Smith told Deadline.
