celebrity extra BY DANA JACKSON
Q:When is “Virgin River” coming back? Will there be another season? I’ve seen all of the episodes and hope it returns. -- M.C. A:Filming has already begun for season six of the Netflix series “Virgin River,” but don’t expect to see it on your screen for a while, possibly not until 2025. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed at Netflix’s Tudum event that Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) “will advance on their path to parenthood while also turning Lilly’s farm into their ultimate dream home.”
Smith further hinted that in the new season, viewers will “be surprised by some returning favorites from the past” and also get introduced to a new character -- Mel’s biological father, played by actor John Allen Nelson (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”).
Q:What is the latest on Richard Simmons? He hasn’t been seen in years, and now there’s a rumor that he died. But fortunately, it was just a rumor, right? -- E.C.
A:American fitness personality Richard Simmons, now age 75, has been reclusive for about a decade now. There were rumors that he was being held against his will, but in 2022, he
issued a statement to the New York Post that he was happy and healthy. Recently, however, he worried his fans again when he posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) that he was dying. He went on to explain, “The truth is we all are dying.”
He went on to give some tips on eating better, getting enough sleep and exercising. Several hours later, he posted again to apologize for the confusion and clarify that he isn’t dying anytime soon. He said he simply wanted to remind everyone to embrace every day that they have.
You can follow Simmons on his official page on X: @TheWeightSaint.
or write me at KFWS, 628
Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (PG-13) -- Is it the end of Jason Momoa’s “Aquaman”? In December 2023, Momoa told “Entertainment Tonight” that if the audience loves the sequel, “there’s a possibility” of a third film getting greenlit. But after negative reviews and the film only making $434 million against a budget of $215 million, it doesn’t look too good. In the sequel, Momoa stars as Arthur Curry four years after the events of the first movie. Now a married family man, Arthur splits his life between the land and sea, while Black Manta still seeks revenge in the shadows. When he learns of Manta’s plans, Arthur breaks Orm, his half-brother, out of prison to join him in the fight against Manta. Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman reprise their roles from the first film. Out now. (Max)
“We Were the Lucky Ones” (TV-MA) -- After starring in the 2022 film “Bullet Train” together, Joey King and Logan Lerman reunite to lead this new eight-episode series based on the historical novel written by Georgia Hunter. King and Lerman respectively portray Halina and Addy Kurc, two siblings in a Jewish family of seven who live in Poland at the start of World War II. The large family inevitably gets separated as the war carries on, taking them far away from home and spreading them across continents. Amid the tragic circumstances they’re forced to endure, the Kurc family is determined to keep their resilience and reunite with each other once the war ends. The first three episodes premiere March 28. (Hulu)
“Palm Royale” (TV-MA) -- In this period-comedy miniseries based on “Mr. & Mrs. American Pie” by Juliet McDaniel, Kristen Wiig (“Wonder Woman 1984”) takes on the role of Maxine Simmons. Maxine is a woman desperate to join high-society life in 1969 Palm Springs, California, after getting dumped by her husband and social circle. She sets her sights on the Palm Royale, an exclusive club whose elite members are dripping with glamour and vanity. But if she truly wants to get to the top of the Palm Royale, Maxine must sacrifice parts of herself to become the person she wishes to be. The series co-stars Ricky Martin (“The Assassination of Gianna Versace”), Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”) and the legendary Carol Burnett. The first three episodes are out now! (Apple TV+)
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.