A New 'When Calls the Heart' Spinoff is Coming — What to Know About 'Hope Valley: 1874' - Teaser Trailer and Premiere Date Announced!
A New 'When Calls the Heart' Spinoff is Coming — What to Know About 'Hope Valley: 1874' - Teaser Trailer and Premiere Date Announced!
K.L. Connie WangSun, February 1, 2026 at 2:18 AM UTC
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Hearties have most definitely earned a spot on Santa's Nice List because the gifts just keep on coming! Not only do we have a new season of When Calls the Heart premiering on January 4, but Hallmark is also expanding the beloved WCTH universe with a new prequel series: Hope Valley: 1874 will star Bethany JoyLenz, Benjamin Ayres and Jill Hennessy. Plus, it's coming sooner than you think: Production is scheduled to begin next week in Vancouver, Canada and a March 2026 premiere date is planned.
"Hope Valley: 1874 gives us a wonderful opportunity to further explore the universe of When Calls the Heart and build a deeper world around this show for our devoted fans, who have helped make it one of the most successful and enduring series on television today,” shared Michelle Vicary, Head of Programming at Hallmark Media. "We’re excited for the Hearties to join us as we tell this rich origin story filled with the kind of heart, community and hope they know and love.”
Read on for everything we know about Hope Valley: 1874—including the full cast and plot.
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When will 'Hope Valley: 1874' premiere and where can I watch it?
Hope Valley: 1874 will premiere on Saturday, March 21 exclusively on Hallmark+. New episodes will premiere on Thursday beginning March 26.
Who is cast in the 'Hope Valley: 1874' prequel?
Bethany Joy Lenz stars in the WCTH prequel series.Courtesy of Hallmark Media (Courtesy of Hallmark Media)Bethany Joy Lenz as Rebecca Clarke
Bethany Joy Lenz is best known for her starring role in One Tree Hill. She has also led many Hallmark original films—including A Biltmore Christmas with Kristoffer Polaha, Five Star Christmas with Victor Webster,Bottled with Love with Andrew Walker and Just My Type opposite Brett Dalton. Lenz—who is also an incredible singer—released a holiday in 2020. Her other credits include Snowed-Inn Christmas, American Gothic, The Christmas Secret and Charmed.
Related: Say 'Fromage!' Get an Exclusive First Look at Savoring Paris With Bethany Joy Lenz
Benjamin Ayres will play Tom Moore.Benjamin Ayres as Tom Moore
Best known for his role as Dr. Zachary Miller on Saving Hope, Ayres also starred in Cranberry Christmas and A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas. He has had recurring roles on Suits and Burden of Truth. Ayres also stars opposite Alison Sweeney on The Chronicle Mysteries on Hallmark Mystery. He's a holiday fave—starring in last year’s Countdown to Christmas movie, The Santa Class and this year's A Christmas Angel Match.
Ayres recently posted a behind-the-scenes look on his Instagram feed. Check it out below.
Related: The Real Santa Claus Finds Himself in Boot Camp in The Santa Class
The beloved Jill Hennessy will be a series regular on the prequel!Dominik Bindl on Getty Images (Dominik Bindl on Getty Images)Jill Hennessy as Hattie Quinn
Hennessy is best known for her roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan. She has guest starred on shows like The Blacklist, The Good Wife and Madam Secretary. She most recently starred in City on a Hill.
Did you know? Hennessy sings and plays guitar and used to busk on the Toronto subway in her native Canada.
Roan Curtis (pictured here in Netflix's Firefly Lane) will play Olivia.Roan Curtis as Olivia Quinn
Roan Curtis joins the cast as Olivia, Hattie's daughter. Curtis previously starred as young Kate in Firefly Lane. She has had a recurring role on SyFy’s The Magicians and has guest-starred on Supernatural and Smallville.
Related: Firefly Lane Season 2 Will Be Its Last! Here's What We Know So Far About the Final Season
Lachlan Quarmby is pictured in Hallmark's Providence Falls.Lachlan Quarmby as Constable Alexander Vaughn
Quarmby will star as Constable Alexander Vaughn, one of the first members of the newly created Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Lachlan Quarmby most recently starred in Hallmark Channel's three-part series, Providence Falls based on the best-selling series from Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets. Hailing from Australia, Quarmby has appeared in episodes of Tracker, Firefly Lane and Charmed. He previously appeared on Hallmark Channel in the film, A Very Merry Bridesmaid.
Courtesy of Hallmark Media (Courtesy of Hallmark Media)Chelsea Hobbs as Peggy McCabe
Hobbs joins the cast as Peggy McCabe, the wife of Tom's foreman, Nash (Brad Abramenko). Hobbs is no stranger to Hallmark. She has starred in several holiday films including Navigating Christmas and more recently Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane. She previously starred in Dreams Moms and had a supporting role in the Martha's Vineyard Mystery series. Other credits include Take Two, The Good Doctor, and UnREAL.
Hobbs announced she was joining the cast on her Instagram feed recently. Check it out below.
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Jedidiah Goodacre as Clayton Cooley
Cooley is a ruggedly handsome blacksmith. Goodacre's credits include Fire Country, Tracker, and Descendants 3.
Brad Abramenko as Nash McCabe
Nash is Tom's foreman. He is married to Peggy (Chelsea Hobbs). Abramenko's credits include The Hunting Party, The Flash, and Under the Bridge.
Mila Morgan as Sarah Clarke
Morgan has been cast as Sarah, Rebecca's young daughter, Sarah. Morgan's credits include Christmas at the Catnip Cafe, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Home Before Dark.
What is the official plot and storyline for 'Hope Valley: 1874'?
In the series, Lenz portrays Rebecca Clarke. While traveling from her home city of Chicago to the Western Canadian frontier with her 11-year-old-daughter, Olivia (Roan Curtis), Rebecca's wagon breaks down and she has no choice but to accept help from local rancher and confirmed bachelor, Tom Moore (Ayres).
Despite Rebecca’s best intentions to remain unattached, her daughter's future and the people she meets during her stay—including the guarded Tom and tenacious pioneer woman Hattie Quinn (Hennessy)—ultimately compel her to put down roots and make a fresh start.
Showcasing themes of perseverance and romance, this series explores the journey of a mother as she discovers a new chapter in her life as she helps forge what starts out as collection of isolated settlers into a small close-knit community during the rugged and hopeful Pioneer Era. This prequel to Hallmark’s historical drama series, When Calls the Heart, will take viewers back in time to follow the early settlers of the community that will one day become the beloved frontier town of Hope Valley.
How does 'Hope Valley: 1874' connect to the 'When Calls the Heart' Story?
The series will explore the early days of the settlement that later becomes Coal Valley and then Hope Valley as we now know it in the When Calls the Heart. Viewers will also meet the adventurous ranchers, gold 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.
When does production begin on Hope Valley: 1874?
Production is already underway! It started in Canada on Dec. 15, 2025.
Where can I watch Hope Valley: 1874?
Hope Valley: 1874 will stream exclusively on Hallmark+.
How many episodes are there in Season 1 of Hope Valley: 1874?
There will be eight episodes in Season 1 of Hope Valley: 1874.
Is there a trailer for Hope Valley: 1874?
Yes! A teaser trailer recently dropped for Hope Valley: 1874. Check it out below.
What other When Call the Heart spinoff series exist?
Back in 2019, Hallmark launched a spinoff series—When Hope Calls—and introduced the new characters in a Christmas episode of When Calls the Heart. The characters—Lillian (Morgan Kohan) and Grace (Jocelyn Hudon)—are two orphan sisters who were separated as children, but get reunited as adults. They decide to open an orphanage of their own in the town of Brookfield. The series ran for one season on Hallmark+, but Hallmark failed to pick it up for a second season.
Fortunately, Great American Family swooped in and picked up the rights and renewed it for a second season. The show went into production on a Christmas movie, which served as the first two episodes of Season 2. With many of the lead actors having moved on to other series, the show was revamped and recast with many of the supporting cast returning and the two lead actors (Morgan Kohan and Ryan-James Hatanaka) reprising their roles to pass the baton to the new cast and close out their storylines. Season 2 premiered on April 6, 2025. Season 3 was announced and has already begun filming. It is expected to premiere sometime in 2026.
Where can I watch When Hope Calls?
Season 1 of When Hope Calls is available to stream on Hallmark+. You can also purchase episodes on Prime Video and similar platforms. It is also available on DVD. Season 2 is available to stream on Great American Pure Flix.
When Calls the Heart premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014 and is the network's longest running original series. It was recently renewed for a 14th season. Season 13 is set to premiere on Jan. 4, 2026.
Related: Great American Family Renews 'When Hope Calls' for Season 3 (Exclusive) - New Cast Added!
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
