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📺 What Comes After Virgin River Season 7? Netflix Faces a Big Decision

✅ 📚 A Prequel in the Works

Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed a prequel series is in active development, focusing on Mel’s parents—Sarah and Everett—set in the 1970s. It’s not just flashbacks; it’s intended to stand on its own as a fully fleshed-out story of their early romance and era-defining moments Wikipedia+15EW.com+15Show Snob+15.

🛠️ Season 7 Filming Plans & Timeline

• Production: Filming started March 12, 2025, in Vancouver and wrapped by late June 2025 Reddit+69meters+6The Times of India+6.

• Episodes: Likely a 10-episode run.

• Release Window: Unconfirmed, but most predictions point to late 2025 or early 2026 RedditPeople.com+39meters+3The Economic Times+3.

• Renewal Status: The series has already been renewed through Season 8, making this its longest-running English-language drama on Netflix EW.com+9Wikipedia+9People.com+9.

🌐 Expanding the Virgin River Universe

• Prequel (Sarah & Everett): A fully scripted series showcasing their evolving relationship set in the 1970s EW.com+10Digital Spy+10Screen Rant+10.

• Other Potential Spin-offs: Producers are exploring even more stories—maybe focusing on other beloved characters or exploring “Grace Valley” and other towns within Robyn Carr’s universe EW.com+7News+79meters+7.

• Seamless Integration: The plan is to weave flashbacks or crossover moments into Season 7 and beyond to connect the main show with its spin-offs News+1Collider+1.

🔮 Netflix’s Big Decision

Netflix must decide whether to:

• Focus on the flagship series (Virgin River), ensuring consistent quality through Seasons 7 and 8.

• Invest more heavily in the prequel, which could launch in 2026 and expand the franchise.

• Commit to multiple spinoffs, capitalizing on the rich source material and keeping the universe alive beyond the main series.

📝 TL;DR

Would you like a deep dive into the show’s timeline, character development in Season 7, or which new spin-offs might be most promising?