Category: When Calls the Heart

All the latest news on Hallmark’s longest-running original series When Calls the Heart.

  • Michael Landon Jr to When Calls the Heart fans: “I wish my dad could see this.”

    Michael Landon Jr to When Calls the Heart fans: “I wish my dad could see this.”

    An emotional Michael Landon Jr. told fans of Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart that he wished his dad could have seen the show and met the fans.
     
    “There’s nothing like this,” Landon said. “You guys are so special.”
     

    When Calls the Heart

     
    Landon, who created the series with Brian Bird, was addressing When Calls the Heart fans at their annual convention in Canada.
     
    Viewers and critics have compared the series to Little House on the Prairie, which Michael Landon Sr. produced and starred in for nine years.
     
    Based on a series of best-selling books by Canadian author Janette Oke, When Calls the Heart follows a privileged young woman who moves to a small coal-mining community to teach school and ends up falling in love with a mountie. The show premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014 and quickly became one of the network’s most popular series. Season 11 is currently in production in British Columbia.
     
    During a September panel discussion at the Hearties Family Reunion, Landon was asked if Little House on the Prairie had inspired When Calls the Heart.
     
    “Absolutely,” he said. “Little House was by far my favorite of my father’s work. It wasn’t just about the series, it was about what the series did to people. It did bring families together. It was a special time.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CxhLrPxrNMs/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a1656184-c4f5-475b-ae15-eedd4585e9e0

    Michael Landon Jr.

     
    Michael Landon Jr. only appeared in one episode of Little House on the Prairie, which ran from 1974 to 1983 on NBC. 
     
    In past interviews, the producer said he went through a turbulent period in his late teens.
     
    “I was lost big time,” he told Fox News. “My parents separated and divorced when I was 16. My world came crashing down. I was floundering. I was completely lost and bitter and everything that was built up in terms of my life and what I thought my life was, the perception of family and togetherness came crashing down. So I was very bitter, turned to drugs and alcohol, and started throwing my life away.”
     
    He eventually began going to church with his mother and, at the age of 19, became a born-again Christian. He got into show business, working as a film loader, assistant cameraman, Steadicam operator, director of photography, apprentice film editor, production assistant, and actor.
     
    In 2005, Landon and Brian Bird formed their own production company, Believe Pictures. He produced the movies The Last Sin Eater, Saving Sarah Cain, and Love Comes Softly, which was also based on a Janette Oke novel.
     

    “Pointing to God”

     
    In an interview, Landon said he tries to make sure his work is “always pointing to God.”
     
    “I started pursuing this way before The Passion of the Christ before there was a market for these types of films,” he told Christian Answers. “I started working on the Love Comes Softly film in the 1990s. It took ten years to get that done because everybody thought it was too soft. But you know, I’ve always been somewhat outspoken in my faith. Each film has something of a soul, and I think people can smell a fake.”
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  • Hope Valley will soon see another wedding

    Hope Valley will soon see another wedding

    Another wedding is coming to Hope Valley. Writers for the hit Hallmark series When Calls the Heart said someone will be getting married in Season 11. However, they are keeping their lips sealed about which couple on the show will tie the knot.

    “There’s going to be a wedding in Season 11,” said Brian Bird, co-creator of the series, in an interview on the Heart to Hearties podcast. “I’m not going to say what it is or who’s getting married, but there’s going to be another wedding in Hope Valley. How about that? I’m looking forward to that.”

    Another wedding

    Hearties spent most of last season waiting for Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Lucas (Chris McNally) to tie the knot. The couple, who became engaged in the Season 9 finale, were planning their wedding throughout Season 10.

    But the two drifted apart when Lucas began his run for governor. Shortly before the end of the season, Elizabeth broke things off. Some fans were furious with the turn of events, saying Elizabeth had become a character they didn’t recognize anymore.

    Others were thrilled, saying that Elizabeth was a better match for Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry).

    Nathan and Elizabeth?

    Hallmark has been teasing a romance between Nathan and Elizabeth in recent months. When the network released the Season 11 poster, it featured an image of Nathan and Elizabeth looking at each other longingly.

    In a trailer for the new season, Nathan is caught speechless when he sees Elizabeth sporting a new haircut.

    McGarry said he thinks Nathan was made for Elizabeth.

    “I have always liked Nathan and Elizabeth as a couple,” he told Entertainment Tonight.

    Mike and Mei?

    But Nathan and Elizabeth aren’t the only two Hope Valley residents making eyes at each other. Mike (Ben Rosenbaum) and Mei (Amanda Wong) have also been spending time together and a clip for Season 11 shows them growing even closer.

    In a trailer released by Hallmark, Mike presents Mei with a new bicycle.

    “I thought you could use it to get your mud from the hot springs,” he tells her.

    “Mike, I love it!” she says.

    “It’s the perfect bike for the perfect person,” he says.

    Aaaaaawwwwww.

    Maybe Lucas?

    Though Elizabeth and Lucas are no longer engaged, he will continue to be part of the series, according to the writers.

    “Lucas is one of our leads and he always will be and he’s an incredible actor,” showrunner Lindsay Sturman said. “His journey is incredibly exciting in season 11. And I think that…we get to see a side of him that we didn’t know…We went back and kind of mined what did we know about him, and then…carry those stories through because…there’s so much richness to the stories that we inherited. And then just growing them from there.”

    He may have had his heart broken but surely a man like that doesn’t stay single for long.

    What do you think, Hearties? Let us know in the comments section who you think will be getting married.

  • Kevin McGarry: “I think Nathan was created for Elizabeth”

    Kevin McGarry: “I think Nathan was created for Elizabeth”

    Kevin McGarry said he believes that his character on When Calls the Heart, Nathan Grant, was meant to be with Elizabeth (played by Erin Krakow).

    “I have always liked Nathan and Elizabeth as a couple,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I think Nathan was created for Elizabeth.”

    McGarry spoke to ET’s Deidre Behar ahead of the Season 11 premiere of the show. In addition to Nathan and Elizabeth’s romance, he touched on how important Lucas (played by Chris McNally) would continue to be part of the series.

    Kevin McGarry

    Kevin McGarry joined the cast of Hallmark’s longest-running original series in Season 6. His character, Mountie Nathan Grant, was sent to the small town of Hope Valley following the death of Mountie Jack Thornton (played by Daniel Lissing).

    He soon found himself developing feelings for Jack’s widow, Elizabeth Thornton (played by Erin Krakow). Over the next two seasons, he found himself in competition with businessman Lucas Bouchard for Elizabeth’s affections. She finally chose Lucas in a controversial Season 8 finale that left some fans saying they would never watch the show again.

    Breakup

    Though Lucas and Elizabeth became engaged in Season 9 and spent much of Season 10 planning their wedding, they broke off their engagement.

    When Hallmark released a poster for Season 11, it showed Nathan and Elizabeth gazing at each other affectionately. Both McGarry and Krakow have confirmed that there will be a romance between their characters in Season 11.

    McGarry said he believes Nathan stayed single during the last two seasons because he was meant to be with Elizabeth.

    “I think it was always meant to be this and that they were meant to be endgame,” he said. “And I really like how it’s been done.”

    Erin Krakow also weighed in.

    “I think it’s really nice. It’s always wonderful working with Kevin and really lovely to get to tell this story and kind of give that back to all of the Kevin fans — and the Nathan fans,” she said.

    Nathan and Lucas

    McGarry also teased a possible shirtless scene, saying “Nathan’s been working out in his garage” and adding that fans will see “more of Nathan
    in Season 11 than you ever have before.”

    He also mentioned co-star Chris McNally’s character Lucas, saying he will remain an important part of the series. The actor also apologized to fans who were upset by the change in storylines.

    “…I’m sorry if anybody is hurt, but I really think the show is moving to a really beautiful place and I hope you stick around and watch it,” he said.

    Season 11 of When Calls the Heart will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, April 7 at 9/8c.

  • Hallmark gives fans a first look at Season 11 of When Calls the Heart

    Hallmark gives fans a first look at Season 11 of When Calls the Heart

    Hallmark has shared a first glimpse at Season 11 of When Calls the Heart. In several short video clips released on the Hallmark Channel website, fans get a look at Elizabeth, Rosemary, Nathan, and the rest of the Hope Valley crew.

    The clips make a point of teasing a budding romance between Nathan and Elizabeth, something fans responded to with enthusiasm.

    “Thank you Hallmark we have been waiting for a Nathan Elizabeth Romance forever!!!” wrote one fan on Hallmark’s Facebook page.

    Season 11

    Hallmark announced back in January that Season 11 of When Calls the Heart would premiere in April 2024. This was great news for fans, who weren’t sure how long they would have to wait for a return of their favorite show.

    The series used to premiere new seasons in February. But in 2022, the start date got pushed back to March. In 2023, fans had to wait until July for Season 10. Hallmark launched two new shows that year, The Way Home, which was renewed for another season, and Ride, which was canceled.

    Hearties weren’t sure if they would have to wait until July for the next season, which is why they responded so enthusiastically to the April premiere date.

    When Calls the Heart

    Erin Krakow shared the Season 11 poster on her Instagram page in January.

    “Season 11 poster & premiere date hard launch!” wrote Erin Krakow in an Instagram post.

    “Ahhhhhh!!! We just binged S10 and are so eagerly awaiting S11!!” wrote one fan in the comments.

    Other fans were thrilled that it looked like Elizabeth and Nathan were finally going to get together.

    “Elizabeth and Nathan always made better sense. Much better chemistry too,” she wrote.

    Elizabeth and Lucas (Chris McNally) broke off their engagement toward the end of Season 10 during his run for governor.

    In January, Krakow released a statement about the upcoming season.

    “Time has flown by since the end of season 10 and I cannot put into words how thrilled I am for the premiere of season 11 of When Calls the Heart,” said Krakow in a statement to Entertainment Tonight. “It’s such a warm feeling to know that we have the loyalty, love, and longevity to make it this far and that is a true testament to our viewers.”

    Lisa Hamilton Daly, executive vice president of programming with Hallmark, also weighed in.

    “If there’s anything we can take away from the success of When Calls the Heart, it’s that these stories, these characters, and essentially their lives, is that they resonate and they matter deeply to so many of our viewers,” she said. “Eleven seasons is a celebration of the kind of heartwarming content that we strive to bring to the fans every year.”

    First look

    In one of the video clips Hallmark shared, Elizabeth tells Rosemary she wants to change her hair. Rosemary gasps and says, “Brilliant!”

    In the next scene, Elizabeth walks into a room showing off her cute new bob and Nathan stares at her in rapture.

    “Wow, you look, you look great,” he says.

    Change seems to be a major theme in Season 11. In addition to a blossoming romance between Elizabeth and Nathan, Rosemary and Lee will continue to adjust to their new life as parents. And Lucas Bouchard will take on new duties in his role as governor.

    “The most exciting season in a long time is coming, counting the days, can’t wait for S11,” wrote one on Facebook.

    Season 11 of When Calls the Heart will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, April 7 at 9/8c.

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