Prequel ‘When Calls the Heart’ Set on Hallmark+: ‘Hope Valley: 1874’
The ‘When Calls the Heart’ universe is expanding. A prequel series, “Hope Valley: 1874,” has been greenlit by Hallmark+ and will begin production next week in Vancouver, Variety can announce exclusively. Bethany Joy Lenz, Benjamin Ayres, Jill Hennessy, Roan Curtis and Lachlan Quarmby will star in the eight-episode series, which debuts in March 2026 and explores the early days of the settlement now known as Hope Valley.
Lenz plays Rebecca Clarke, who travels from Chicago to the Western Canadian border with her 11-year-old daughter. “But when her car breaks down, she has no choice but to accept the help of local rancher and confirmed bachelor, Tom Moore (Ayres),” the press release reads. “Despite Rebecca’s best intentions to remain untethered, the future she dreams of for her and her daughter, along with the people she meets in this young town – including guarded Tom and tenacious pioneer woman Hattie Quinn (Hennessy) – ultimately forces her to put down roots and make a fresh start.”
Curtis plays Hattie’s daughter, while Quarmby rounds out the main cast as Constable Alexander Vaughn, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Roan Curtis, Lachlan Quarmby
The series features “the adventurous farmers, prospectors and early pioneers who worked together to navigate and embrace the changes of a new era and ultimately build a small, close-knit community in the rugged and hopeful pioneer era.”
This marks one of the first new green lights from Michelle Vicary, who returned to Hallmark as head of programming in August. During her original 22 years with the company, she oversaw the launch of “When Calls the Heart,” which remains a Hallmark hit.
“‘Hope Valley: 1874’ gives us a wonderful opportunity to further explore the ‘When Calls the Heart’ universe and build a deeper world around this show for our dedicated fans who have helped make it one of the most successful and enduring series on television,” she said in a statement. “We are thrilled that the Hearties will join us as we tell this rich origin story, filled with the kind of heart, community and hope they know and love.”
“When Calls the Heart” was recently renewed for its 13th season on the Hallmark Channel, set in 2026 and starring Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith. Additionally, original series star Lori Loughlin returns after being written out in 2019 amid the college admissions scandal.
The original series, inspired by Janette Oke’s book of the same name, debuted in 2014. A spin-off series, “When Hope Calls,” debuted in 2019. While the first season aired on the then-Hallmark Movies Now and later on the Hallmark Channel, it later moved to Great American Family for its second season.
