Fans of the show have been eagerly waiting for this news, and it’s finally here.

With Virgin River season 6 set to premiere in late 2024, two new characters will be introduced as young versions of Mel’s parents, Sarah and Everett Reid. Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Callum Kerr (One Piece) will take on these roles in flashbacks to the 1970s.

As Virgin River continues with Mel and Jack Sheridan’s upcoming wedding, viewers will see the love story between Sarah and Everett unfold. First look images from Tudum show the couple in 1972, with Sarah described as “a witty, free spirit from the big city with a deep passion for activism, trying to escape the conventional life expected of women in that era.” Sarah shares a quick connection with Everett, “a charming, free-spirited singer-songwriter with a poet’s soul” who dreams of performing on stage and is currently living out of his VW van. However, an unexpected encounter with a hitchhiker may lead him to rethink his life’s path.

So, how do Sarah and Everett tie into season 6?

The present-day version of Everett (played by John Allen Nelson) appeared in the Christmas special, though Sarah has yet to be introduced on the show. In season 5 part 1, Mel’s sister Joey uncovered love letters to their mother from Mel’s biological father, leading to the revelation in season 5 part 2 that Everett was that man. At first reluctant to reconnect, Everett eventually opened up to having a relationship with Mel, his long-lost daughter, just in time for the holidays.

The season 5 finale left fans with a cliffhanger as Everett hinted he had “something important” to tell Mel, which is expected to be revealed in season 6. Showrunner Patrick Sean-Smith shared with Deadline that season 6 will dive deeper into Everett’s backstory, his ties to Virgin River, and how his relationship with the town and with Mel develops.

There’s also talk of a potential Virgin River prequel in development, focusing on Sarah and Everett’s love story, further expanding the show’s universe.