‘When Calls the Heart’ Prequel ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ Brings New Faces, Same Hallmark Magic
The beloved Hallmark series gets an origin story with new characters, romance and frontier hope
With each passing year, When Calls the Heart reminds us why we love Hallmark the way we do. Whether it’s the relatable characters at the helm of the show, the heartfelt relationships they’ve built, the way the community looks after one another or the comforting setting, this series has become a staple in people’s lives, and there’s something about it that keeps us coming back for more. With the thirteenth season currently airing and a fourteenth season already announced, fans are excited at what’s to come for the residents of Hope Valley—but Hallmark is opening up a new chapter for Hearties to dive into. The beloved network recently revealed that a When Calls the Heart prequel series would be hitting Hallmark+ in March 2026, and we simply can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Here, everything we know about Hope Valley: 1874, a new When Calls the Heart origin story.
How ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ connects to ‘When Calls the Heart’
Ahead of the Season 13 premiere of When Calls the Heart, fans of the show got the ultimate Christmas gift when it was announced that a prequel would soon begin production. The original series, When Calls the Heart, began by introducing Elizabeth Thatcher, a teacher who settles down in the small community of Hope Valley (originally Coal Valley) and quickly finds a place among the kind faces that make the town what it is. As the series goes on, Elizabeth’s life changes in ways she never could have imagined as she finds love, experiences loss and builds meaningful friendships and relationships along the way that carry through all of life’s moments.
The upcoming prequel series takes us back a few years and focuses on a new face making their home in the place we came to know as Hope Valley.
What will ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ be about?
Hope Valley: 1874 follows a woman named Rebecca Clarke, who, along with her 11-year-old daughter Sarah (played by Mila Morgan), makes the trek from Chicago to the Canadian frontier—though their journey is far from simple. During their travels, their wagon breaks down, forcing her to accept the help of a kind rancher, Tom, who offers to lend them a hand. Soon enough, the kindness of the folks she meets in Tom’s small community encourages her to settle down with her daughter, and this exciting new series promises the same sense of hope, comfort and joy that When Calls the Heart already provides fans. Plus, in true Hallmark fashion, there’s sure to be an element of romance as Rebecca finds herself drawn to Tom’s charm, warmth and charisma.
“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,” said Michelle Vicary, Head of Programming at Hallmark Media, in a press release. “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.”
Meet the ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ cast
Love the When Calls the Heart cast? You’re going to really love the faces leading this prequel! Leading the way as Rebecca Clarke is none other than Bethany Joy Lenz, 44, who has already shown her stuff as a Hallmark starlet plenty of times before. Tom will be portrayed by Benjamin Ayres, who has been a Hallmark hunk for quite some time. Also joining the cast is Jill Hennessy, 57, of Law & Order fame, who also guest-starred in the pilot of Yellowstone. She will play a pioneer woman named Hattie. Roan Curtis and Lachlan Quarmby will join the cast as well.
New ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ teaser reveals what’s to come
A brand new teaser for the series has just dropped—and pulled back the curtain on what viewers can expect. “Before Coal Valley,” it begins, “Before the town built on love and faith, there was a story of new beginnings.” The preview continues to highlight the stunning setting in which the series takes place, and showcases the themes of resilience and, of course, hope, that are interwoven throughout the series. “My momma can do anything she sets her mind to, ” says Rebecca’s daughter, Sarah, in a scene from the trailer. “We’ve come too far to let anything stop us now,” Rebecca states to Sarah later on.
Do you have to watch ‘When Calls the Heart’ to understand ‘Hope Valley: 1874’?
Being that Hope Valley: 1874 is a prequel and takes place before the events of When Calls the Heart, we don’t anticipate that you’ll have to have seen the original series to follow along, understand and enjoy this new series. However, if you wish to catch up on WCTH anyway and would prefer to watch in order of release, it’s available to stream on Hallmark+.
When will ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ premiere?
Though news of this series only recently broke, anxious viewers won’t have to wait too long! Hope Valley: 1874 begins streaming on Hallmark+ on Sunday, March 21. From there, new episodes will drop every Thursday beginning on March 26.
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