Marco Grazzini is looking forward after his departure from Virgin River.
“I’m so grateful for every opportunity, heartbreak and interaction that I’ve had in my 20-plus years in the business,” Grazzini, 45, told Vogue Philippines in a profile published Tuesday, March 10. “My love for the craft is as big as ever, and I’m hungry to get challenged by different scripts and unearth new versions of myself. I love sci-fi and comedy and am actively writing a couple scripts with my writing partner.”
He continued, “Energetically speaking, I feel like my career is just getting started, which can be a good place to operate from.”
Grazzini has starred as Mike Valenzuela on Netflix’s Virgin River since season 2. The actor will not return for the upcoming season 8.
“[Marco is] not coming back for season 8,” showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed to Deadline on Thursday, March 12. “For me, I’m just trying to look to the longevity of the show and making sure that the characters that we’re keeping have enough story engine in them to keep going. I can’t say there are any specific cast shakeups planned, but I think we will have to start to — as characters run their course — make some decisions and bring in some new blood.”
Virgin River, which was adapted from Robyn Carr’s bestselling book series, also stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Colin Lawrence, Annette O’Toole, Tim Matheson and Benjamin Hollingsworth.
While Grazzini’s Mike won’t be back for season 8, fans will still get to see his arc wrap up in newly released season 7.
“There’s a lot going on for Mike in season 7,” the actor teased to Vogue. “It’s very fast-paced, and that momentum makes it tough to navigate some uncomfortable truths. Balancing the life he wants with Brie [Zibby Allen] against what she did to him in season 6. Without a doubt, season 7 was the most fun I’ve had on the show.”
For Grazzini as an actor, he stressed that Mike now feels “like such an ingrained part” of him.
“I root for him like family. After a couple of seasons playing the same character, it really does start feeling like you’re just being yourself in front of the camera,” he said. “You start wondering, ‘Am I even doing anything? Should I be doing more?’ That can be a dangerous impulse because now you might be messing with something that’s been working well.”
Virgin River season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.
