'Hope Valley: 1874' set to premiere March 21

Dawn of a new frontier: Hallmark’s highly anticipated prequel series to ‘When Calls the Heart’ premieres Saturday, March 21, exclusively on Hallmark+

√ Starring Bethany Joy Lenz, Benjamin Ayres & Jill Hennessy

√ Click here to access a first look at trailer

Hallmark Press Release

Hallmark announced “Hope Valley: 1874,” the new prequel series to the beloved “When Calls the Heart,” will premiere Saturday, March 21, exclusively on Hallmark+, with a new episode premiering every Thursday beginning March 26. 

The network also unveiled a first look at the trailer for the eight-episode series, giving fans an exciting glimpse into the origins of the community that would one day become Hope Valley.

As previously announced, the series stars Bethany Joy Lenz (“A Biltmore Christmas”), Benjamin Ayres (“The Santa Class”), Jill Hennessy (“City on a Hill”), Roan Curtis (“Firefly Lane”) and Lachlan Quarmby (“Providence Falls”). Joining the ensemble are Jedidiah Goodacre (“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”) as Clayton Cooley, a ruggedly handsome blacksmith, Chelsea Hobbs (“Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane”) as Peggy McCabe, the wife of Tom’s (Ayres) foreman Nash as portrayed by Brad Abramenko (“A Splash of Love”).

Set in 1874, the series explores the earliest days of the frontier settlement that later became Hope Valley, chronicling the courage, resilience and relationships that laid the foundation for the close-knit town viewers have come to love. Lenz portrays Rebecca Clarke, who travels from her home city of Chicago to the Western Canadian frontier with her 11-year-old-daughter, Sarah (Mila Morgan, “The Holiday Sitter”). When her wagon breaks down, and she realizes the boardinghouse is not as advertised, Rebecca has no choice but to accept help from local rancher and confirmed bachelor, Tom Moore (Ayres). Despite her best intentions to remain unattached, Bella can't help but slowly fall for Tom and develop a friendship with tenacious pioneer woman Hattie Quinn (Hennessy). Hattie’s daughter, Olivia (Curtis), helps run their trading post and catches the eye of Constable Alexander Vaughn (Quarmby), much to the dismay of Clayton (Goodacre), who harbors feelings for her.

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.