The SAG-AFTRA strike has affected numerous TV and movie projects, and it looks like it will also affect Virgin River Season 6. Alexandra Breckenridge, who plays the role of the lead Melinda, seemingly hints at the sixth season’s production status in a post on Instagram ahead of Virgin River Season 5’s nearing release.
The American actors’ union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) went on strike on July 14 due to an ongoing dispute about labor with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). It coincides with the Writers Guild of America’s (WGA) strike, which began on May 2, stopping the movie and TV industry in the US—just like what the COVID-19 pandemic did in 2020.
As of late, Breckenridge has been sharing cooking content on Instagram, and she recently revealed the reason for it in a series of posts in her Stories. By the looks of it, it has something to do with the SAG-AFTRA strike.
With this strike ongoing, the 41-year-old said she couldn’t go back to work or discuss anything work-related on social media because of the strike. “I'm trying to do something fun and creative with my time because SAG is on strike, and I can't go back to work, and I can't even talk about work,” she explained.
Well, reading between the lines, Breckenridge didn’t just reveal the reason behind her cooking stints. She even seemingly hinted at the production status of Virgin River Season 6, considering the fifth season’s filming has already wrapped up and is about to hit Netflix in a few days.
This also apparently confirms why she hasn’t been promoting Virgin River Season 5 despite its upcoming release. “I can't post anything; I can't promote anything. It's very weird,” she continued. “So, if all y'all are trying to send me messages asking about work-related things, I can't answer you, and I'm really sorry about that.”
When will Virgin River Season 6 production begin?
Netflix has renewed Virgin River for a sixth season in May. As one of the most successful series in the streamer, the renewal is not a surprise at all. However, the big question is, when will its production begin with all the strikes ongoing?
Annette O'Toole, who plays Hope in the series, revealed in a post on Instagram in May that the filming for Virgin River Season 6 would begin as soon as the strike ended. “#VirginRiver season 5 will air in the fall and we’re going to film season 6 as soon as the strike is settled,” she wrote.
When will it finally happen? No one knows until the disputes between the parties have settled. With Virgin River Season 6’s production delay, fans can also expect its release date to move further.
